First female Jagadguru of Lingayats, Mathe Mahadevi passes away

Bengaluru: The 74-year-old spiritual head of Basava Dharma Peetha and first female Jagadguru of Lingayats Mathe Mahadevi, passed away in Bengaluru on Thursday evening.  

“We regret to inform that 74 years old Dr. Jagadguru Mate Mahadevi who was critically ill and admitted on March 8 at Manipal Hospitals has passed away at 4.45 PM today due to cardiac arrest. She had a prolonged renal illness and was on advanced life support system  Since admission, she required multiple organ and life supports including ventilation, BP support, and dialysis. Her condition was extremely critical and she was receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics for sepsis. The ICU, nephrology and pulmonology teams were providing the best of care to her round the clock. Our deepest condolences to the entire family and the devotees on her sad demise” stated the official press note of Manipal Hospital.

Mahadevi was the first female Jagadguru of a South Indian Lingayat community and had fought for a separate religion for the Lingayats. 

She had written over 20 books on Vachanas and teachings of Basavanna, a social reformer, who fought against the caste system.

She had also started an educational and religious institute called Jaganmata Akka Mahadevi Ashrama for girls in Karnataka’s Dharwad district.