Siddeshwar Swami

Siddeshwar Swami (born Siddagonda Ogappa Biradar; 5 September 1940 – 2 January 2023) was an Indian spiritual preacher and philosopher known for his teachings on yoga and spirituality. Swami was the head of Jnanayogashrama, an ashram in the city of Vijayapura (formerly Bijapur), in the Indian state of Karnataka. He declined the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, when it was awarded to him in 2018. He had earlier declined an honorary doctorate from the Karnatak University.

Early life Swami was born as Siddagonda Ogappa Biradar on 5 September 1940, to Sangavva and Ogappa Gowda Biradar into a Lingayat family of agriculturists. His father was a zamindar and had six childrenthree sons and three daughters, with Swami being the eldest.

In addition to his teachings on yoga and spirituality, Swami was also known for his philanthropic efforts, establishing several charitable organisations to help the disadvantaged.

Swami declined the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, when it was awarded to him in 2018, stating that as a sanyasi, or ascetic, "he had no interest in such awards".

Swami died on 2 January 2023. In his will, he requested that no memorial be built for him and that his body be cremated without any post-death rituals. His final rites were completed in the ashram.

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