Nation Rooted in Civilisation Stands Taller in Modern World: Vice-President

C. P. Radhakrishnan, today attended the 7th commemoration day of Dr. Sree Sree Shivakumara Mahaswamigalu at Sree Siddaganga Math, Tumakuru, Karnataka and paid rich tributes to the revered saint, remembering him as a beacon of compassion, sacrifice and selfless service.Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President said that although seven years have passed since the Mahaswamiji attained samadhi, time has only deepened his relevance. In an age marked by uncertainty, division and restless ambition, Swamiji’s life continues to serve as a moral compass, guiding society to choose humanity over self-interest, he observed.

Highlighting the rich legacy of Sree Siddaganga Math, founded in the 15th century, the Vice-President recalled its long tradition of trividha dasoha—service through food, education and shelter. He noted that Dr. Sree Sree Shivakumara Mahaswamigalu, who assumed responsibility of the Math in 1941, was not a saint confined to rituals, but a saint of action who transformed spirituality into service and devotion into duty.

The Vice-President said that Swamiji’s life reaffirmed a timeless Indian truth that seva is sadhana and humanity is the highest form of worship. Even at an advanced age, Swamiji remained committed to service with unwavering discipline, humility and compassion, he added.

Under the guidance of Dr. Sree Sree Shivakumara Mahaswamigalu and the present pontiff, the Vice-President said, Siddaganga Math has evolved into a powerful social movement. He noted that lakhs of children from the poorest families, cutting across caste, community and region, have received education, food and shelter at the Math—not as charity, but as a right, offered with dignity and love.

The Vice-President underlined the crucial role played by spiritual institutions like Siddaganga Math in India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat. He said that Bharat’s spiritual and cultural traditions have sustained society through values of dharma, seva, vasudhaiva kutumbakam and reverence for nature, which continue to guide inclusive and sustainable development.

He observed that in recent years, these timeless civilisational values have found institutional expression through governance on international platforms. He added that the emphasis on heritage conservation, traditional knowledge systems, and recognition of saints, seers and spiritual institutions reflects a governance model that respects faith while serving all citizens equally.

The Vice-President further said that the revival of Hindu consciousness under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is about the dignity of knowing who we are, where we come from, and what values guide us forward.

Emphasising the harmony between vikas and virasat, the Vice-President said that a nation rooted in its civilisation stands taller in the modern world—confident, compassionate and inclusive. Institutions such as Siddaganga Math, he said, play a vital role in keeping society spiritually anchored while contributing to education, health, social harmony and national development.