HAVERI: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the elders built temples to unite everyone and make them involved in religious activities without differentiation. “People must shed ego and bow before God”, he said after inaugurating the Mukteshwar Temple at Shidenur village in Haveri district.
The CM said Mukteshwara is the most revered god and the temple has a rich history. “This temple will gain more importance in the coming days. Our forefathers had started a good culture. Social reformer Basavanna had said ‘Dehave Degula’ and stressed on the purity of atma”, the CM said.
“Today, I participated in the dedication programme of Mukteshwar temple in Shidenur village of Badagi taluk of Haveri district. Local representatives including MLA Nehru Olekar were present on this occasion,” he tweeted.
The CM said that Nehru Olekar, a native of Shidenur, has proved that he hasn’t forgotten his native village. “Born in an ordinary farmer family, he is actively involved in organisations and later got elected as MLA to serve the people. By doing this religious work, he has made honest efforts to pay back his native village”, the CM added.
The Chief Minister further informed that in his vachanas, Basavanna has said the body must always be pure and it must be followed. “The purpose of building the temples was to ensure purity en masse. The mind will be calm by visiting temples”, CM Bommai said.
“The rituals connected with temples must be celebrated by all people, irrespective of caste, colour or religion. The entrance of the temple will be big to symbolise that everyone is welcome, but the sanctum sanctorum will be small. The reason is that they must shed egos and bow their head before god. Olekar has done a good job and lord Mukteshwara will do good for him”, CM Bommai said.
MLA Nehru Olekar, Sadashiva Mahaswamiji, Mahesh Tenginkai and others were also present. (ANI).