Video of 8-year-old peetha successor singing for his ailing 90-year-old father goes viral | Hubballi News

Kalaburagi: The Sharanabasaveshwar Samstan and Mahadasoha Peetha’s 8-year-old successor, Chiranjeevi Doddappa Appa, sang a century-old devotional song, ‘Appa Sharana Basavanna…’ before his 90-year-old father, Sharanabasawappa Appa, who is on ventilator support. The video went viral, with lakhs of devotees sharing it as concerns grew over Peethadhipati’s health.Basavaraj Deshmukh, Peetha’s secretary and brother-in-law of Sharanabasawappa Appa, told TOI that it was shot last week when Sharanabasawappa Appa was admitted to the hospital. “Thousands of devotees were worried about Sharanabasawappa’s health. However, this video reduced tension as Sharanabasawappa is seen in a relaxed mood. Another singing video of ‘Kotigobba Sharana…’, in which the senior pontiff is also seen clapping to the tune and remarking as ‘very good’, is also making rounds on social media,” he added.Laxman Dasti, an activist, noted that it’s a heart-wrenching situation for devotees as senior Appa is suffering from age-related ailments. “The songs sung by the junior pontiff have been stored by almost all devotees, and they are even being played at temples in the region. Devotees are praying for the welfare of the senior pontiff,” he added.Anil Allolli, an activist in Dharwad, commented that it’s a heart-touching video wishing a speedy recovery for the senior pontiff. “Many devotional songs on Kalaburagi Sharanabasaveshwar have been popular as bhajans and in other forms in north Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh,” he added.Sharanabasawappa Appa is the 8th pontiff, and his son, Chiranjeevi Doddappa Appa, was crowned as the 9th Peethadhipati three years ago. It attracts about 5 lakh people during its annual fair that normally takes place in March every year. Apart from this, the peetha has been rendering yeoman service in education, agriculture, and the spiritual sectors in the north Karnataka region.According to Lingarajappa Appa, nephew of Sharanabasawappa Appa, a study was conducted by Gulbarga University in the past, and it traced over 300 temples named after Sharanabasaveshwar. He noted that the song was composed a century ago, and devotees sing it on all occasions of the Peetha.It can be recalled here that Sharanabasawappa Appa fathered a boy from his second wife at the age of 82 in Nov 2017. He has five daughters from his first wife, Matoshree Komaladevi, who died on March 23, 1993, and three daughters from his second wife, Matoshree Dakshayini Avvaji.