Spiritual leader Sadguru Sivananda Murthy passes away

VISAKHAPATNAM: Renowned spiritual leader Sadguru Kandukuru Sivananda Murthy died today at his Warangal residence after being indisposed for over a month.

He was 87. The end came in the wee hours around 1.55 am at his home 'Gurudham' in Warangal, where he was shifted to recently from his ashram in Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam district.

Murthy has a wide following among the Telugu diaspora. He had set up several cultural trusts and also established the Andhra Music Academy.

Also, he had built two ashrams at Visakhapatnam and Warangal respectively, where his mortal remains have been kept for his followers to pay their last tributes.

Born on December 21, 1928 at Rajahmundry in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, the veteran guru was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Andhra University in recognition of his services.

Murthy had been seriously ill for a month after he allegedly suffered sunstroke.

On May 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had telephoned Sivananda Murthy to enquire about his health when he was undergoing treatment in Warangal.

Modi had also tweeted about his conversation with Sadguru.