Lingayat spiritual leader Mathe Mahadevi dead

Lingayat leader Mathe Mahadevi passed away at a private hospital here on Thursday due to cardiac arrest, a statement from the hospital said.

"Mathe Mahadevi was critically ill and admitted to Manipal Hospitals on March 8. She passed away at 4.45 p.m," said the statement.

The 74-year-old spiritual leader was one of the first few seers from the southern state who demanded a separate religion status for Lingayats.

Mahadevi was on the life support system, including ventilation and dialysis, due to renal illness for some time, the hospital said.

--IANS

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