Mathe Mahadevi, a prominent Lingayat leader and seer of the Basava Dharma Peetha in Bagalkot in Karnataka, passed away on Thursday.
She was being treated at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru and hospital authorities confirmed to TNM that she passed away at 4:45 pm after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The 73-year-old religious leader was admitted to the hospital on March 8. She was also suffering from a kidney ailment. She had come to the hospital with a similar problem five months ago and had made a recovery.
Her mortal remains will be kept for public viewing at Basava Mantap in Bengaluru’s Rajajinagar. It will then be taken to Kudalasangama for public viewing. Her last rites will be conducted on Friday afternoon at Kudalasangama.
Born on March 13, 1946, Mathe Mahadevi had a Masters Degree in Arts before she began her tutelage of the Lingayat faith under renowned Lingayat Seer, Gurulingananda. In 1970 she was installed as a jagadguru, and became the first woman to be offered that rank in a Lingayat mutt.
She was one of the most influential leaders of the Lingayat community. She had travelled across the state to take influential mutts and their leaders into confidence for the separation from Hinduism.