Spiritual leader Bangaru Adigalar laid to rest with state honours

Spiritual guru Bangaru Adigalar, founder of Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peedam who died on Thursday, was laid to rest at Melmaruvathur on Friday with full state honours, including a gun salute.

Adigalar’s mortal remains were buried as per Siddha custom at Putrukovil Mandapam within the Melmaruvathur temple complex. No Vedic rituals with Sanskrit mantras were performed till the mortal remains of Adigalar were taken inside the place of burial.

Chief Minister MK Stalin; Governor RN Ravi, governors of Telangana and Jharkhand, Tamilisai Soundararajan and CP Radhakrishnan; state ministers K Ponmudy and TM Anbarasan; PMK founder S Ramadoss, BJP state president K Annamalai; former chief minister O Panneerselvam, VK Sasikala and leaders of various political parties joined thousands of devotees in paying their last respect to the departed guru. Police personnel in ceremonial attire gave a gun salute. Minister Ponmudy placed a wreath on behalf of the state government.

Thousands of Adigalar’s devotees clad in red attire from Tamil Nadu and other states were seen chanting ‘Amma’ and ‘Om Sakthi Para Sakthi’ amid tears during the funeral ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message, said Bangaru Adigalar’s life was rich in spirituality and compassion and he would be a guiding light for generations to come. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the passing away of the spiritual guru.