Sunil Lohan
Former Chief Minister and Gadag-Haveri MP Basavaraj Bommai said that Panchakshari Gawai and Puttaraj Gawai were truly children of God and they had the guru-shishya relationship between them to that of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman.
He was speaking at the 81st birth anniversary of Paramapoojya Gaanayogi Shivayogi Lingraj Pandit Panchakshari Gawai and the 15th death anniversary and Jatramahotsava of Padma Bhushan Dr.Pandit Puttaraj Gawai held here on Friday .
He said today they are commemorating two revered gurus,miraculous spiritual beings.Every time he come to this Mutt, he is overwhelmed with emotion.
He recall the musical performances of Pandit Puttaraj Gawai here during past festivals,and these memories are deeply embedded in his heart.Attending his final journey was a blessed moment in his life—one he will never forget.
Bommai said Panchakshari Gawai and Puttaraj Gawai were children of God.When God wants to show what He has contributed to the world,He sends such divine beings to earth.
“We humans, though we have eyes, are often blind. We fail to see what truly matters and look away.But the lives of these gurus are a revelation—they open our eyes. They saw what we couldn’t.That’s why they were miraculous souls — always smiling,living in a realm far different from ours”.
The MP said god created them to witness his beautiful creation, like the earth and sky.But these saints had the divine vision to perceive realms where God is present. No matter what they achieve,still cannot see the place where God resides without deep solitude and meditation.
Knowledge and Meditation must
He said gor a meaningful life, knowledge and meditation are essential.Panchakshari Gawai and Puttaraj Gawai embodied both.
They were multilingual and had a language beyond spoken words—a language of the spirit. Such ascetics lived here in Gadag and gave life to thousands of blind children. Remembering them is their good fortune.
Devotion is the highest form of love—a pure, unconditional,and demandless love.Asking for wealth or power is not devotion; that is a transaction.
True devotion is to dissolve yourself in your Guru, surrendering their ego and identity.That was the spiritual relationship between Panchakshari Gawai and Puttaraj Gawai.
Gifted children,blessed gadag:
The BJP MP said today, children sang beautifully here.A boy named Ravi played the harmonium exceptionally well — not for their applause, but from pure talent.The people of Gadag are truly blessed.
Whenever the name Puttaraj Gawai is mentioned, it evokes Gadag.” I have seen a photograph of my father and Dr. Rajkumar with Puttaraj Gawai.Our family has a second-generation relationship with this Mutt.
Achieving something in life is difficult and rare, but retaining the innocence we are born with is even more difficult. When we are born,we are innocent.
But as we grow, that innocence fades.The pure emotions we see in children are hard to retain, but Puttaraj Gawai and Panchakshari Gawai carried that childlike innocence till their final breath”
Bommai said Puttaraj Gawai never went against his inner conscience.The guru-disciple tradition between them was enriched by music.
Music is a divine emotion. Those who sing are like yogis. These gurus passed on music to their disciples through this Mutt.
As long as this tradition continues,Panchakshari Gawai and Puttaraj Gawai will continue to live among them.
Need for Grant Support
During the final journey of Panchakshari Gawai, Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister.Himself and Sriramulu organized it meticulously.
Lakhs of people participated.People along the roads provided drinking water.That voluntary participation was proof of their reverence. At that time, he had sanctioned Rs.5 crore for a building here, but it is still incomplete.
District In-Charge Minister, H.K.Patil should speak with the Chief Minister to ensure necessary grants for its completion. He too will speak to the Union Ministry of Culture and do his best to support this cause.
