Hundreds bid adieu to Swami Jagadatmanandaji

A large number of people, including devotees, paid their last respects to Swami Jagadatmanandaji, senior seer of Sri Ramakrishna Sharadashrama, who passed away, at Ponnampet on Friday.

The seer had died in Mysuru on Thursday. The body was brought to Ashrama in Ponnampet on Friday.

Earlier, the body was placed at Ramakrishna Ashrama, BEd college in Mysuru for public viewing.

The body was consigned to flames at Hindu crematorium in Ponnampet.

There was dead silence in the room where the seer, known to be full of life, stayed in the ashram. The Tambori, Veena, books and chair, all belonging to the seer, looked orphaned.

The seer, who had come to the Ashrama in Ponnampet in 2000, worked for the upliftment of tribals in South Kodagu. He had chalked out various programmes for improving the lives of the tribals.

Swami Jagadatmanandaji is known for his work “Badukalu Kaliyiri.” Madikeri Akashavani had brought out a series of programmes on the book for one year, to inspire youths, said devotees.

The seer had an in-depth knowledge of Bhagavadgita, Upanishad and Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Vedantha literature.

He was a good writer and an orator. ‘Learn to Live,’ the English version of “Badukalu Kaliyiri” was published from Singapore. The seer was also conferred ‘Arya Prashasti’ in 2004.

The seer was also a motivational speaker. He headed the Ashrama at Ponnampet from 2000 to 2010 and continued to stay there even after handing over the charge. He delivered discourse once in a week at the ashrama.

He had delivered several discourses on spirituality in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries. The seer was in a hospital for the last one month for treatment.

Ashrama president Bodhaswaroopanandaji, MLA K G Bopaiah and others paid their last respects to the departed soul.