The relevance of spirituality and impact of Ashramas and Gurus in attainment of consciousness

Abstract

To make a pot we need clay, To make jewels we need gold, To travel through divinity one need Guru, The individual’s association is the first step towards understanding lord. The world we see has changed dramatically over a period through science and technology in the quest of ideal and long-lasting happiness. To gain materialistic benefits, we have divorced ourselves from the inner self. We are running a race which seems to have no end causing a drain of resources. We have forgotten to contemplate about our inner self which leads to various mental and physical illness. In our quest, we were suggested by Professor to visit Sree Siddaganga Math. The visit was to learn how they are creating impact in society through education, synergizing traditional knowledge and science, and technology. Sree Siddaganga Math: It was the cool sunny morning of 2nd February when we visited Siddaganga Math. The math is in Tumkur District which is 63 km away from Bangalore. First, we visited Siddganaga Institute of Technology. The director of the institute Dr. M.N.Channabasappa consented to give an interview and guide us about Swamiji and the Math. We could feel his presence of the Math trough hoarding along the roadside once we entered Tumkur. The effigies of the current head of the math His Holiness Dr. Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu was seen all over. The road leads us to the main entrance where we saw Gurukula from distance. The ambiance was very pious, cheerful and serene. People were flocking inside the Math campus. The school kids were involved in many outdoor activities. The Math is an old ashrama creating a continuous line of famed “Siva Yogi Siddapurushas” in 13th century AD. The mutt was established by 'Sri Gosala Siddeshwara Swamiji'. He belonged to 'Shunya Simhasana'. An academy famous during the days of well-known social reformer Basaveshwara. According to some legend, one of the disciples of Gosala Siddeshwara exercised his spiritual power and resulted in the pondlet in one of the caves of the hillock, adjoining the math and hence the math is called “Siddaganga”. The math is a serene and colorful and has also, during subsequent years, developed into a much-visited pilgrim center in Karnataka. Above all, Sree Siddaganga Math has become a versatile Gurukula providing education and health to more than 10000 poor children with free food and shelter without any discrimination of caste and creed.