Gurukula Tradition
Vidyadana (Imparting Education) and Annadana (Offering free food) are the contemporary principles of Indian social and religious culture. Since the time of Basaveshwara these principles of Basava Philosophy are followed with the establishment of Gurukula System of education and Dasoha. Sree Siddaganga Math inheriting this tradition has been carrying out these activities since late 19th Century.
Sree Siddaganga Gurukula is the premier hub of the Math. It is an abode charity of Sree Siddaganga Math and a unique Gurukula which has provided free education, free food and shelter to thousands of poor and rural children without any discrimination and who have come from across the length and breadth of Karnataka and neighbouring states. The heads of Sree Siddaganga Math have always performed such social acts to promote primary and basic education which had been recognised worldwide.
In the year 1902, Late Sree Sree Atavee swamigalu started a small Sanskrit Gurukula, where free education in the ancient text was imparted. The Sanskrit College has an excellent library with more than 20,000 volumes of books in Kannada, English and Sanskrit and it receives 100 magazines in exchange.
The Growth
This small effort later became a college in 1937 during the period of Sree Sree Uddana Shivayogi Swamiji’s time. The two traditions, the Gurukula and Dasoha have been incessantly followed even to this day and Sree Siddaganga Math has become a unique Gurukula providing education to more than 10,000 poor children with free food and shelter. The strength of this Gurukula service has steadily grown in years, as there was only one teacher and 20 students when it was started. By the year 1917 there were about 40 students belonging to all faiths and communities. When Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji took responsibility in 1941 there were about 200 students. The ceaseless and untiring efforts of Sree Sree Swamiji have resulted in the present magnitude of more than 10,000 children.
The Admissions
The special characteristic of the Gurukula is its focus on the poor, orphans and children from all parts of Karnataka and even from neighbouring states. In particular they students all faiths, religious sects, communities and from innumerable castes and beliefs. As per the figures of 1973-1974, it was found that Muslim children were also admitted to the Gurukula. The inmates of Gurukula represented as many as 100 different caste and communities at one time. Admission to the Gurukula is a wonderful sight to watch in the Math premises June month. Children with their parents directly go to Sree Sree Swamiji with their applications and His Holiness personally receive them and bless the children and parents by offering admission at the Gurukula. The Math also runs a school for the Blind Children and there is a separate Hostel facility for them.
