Bengaluru :  The mortal remains of the swamiji were taken in a bamboo basket to the eight centuries old Udupi Sri Krishna Math, where a bath was given in Madhawa Sarovara (holy tank).

After a darshan of Lord Krishna, the body of the swamiji kept in the bamboo basket was taken in a procession in an open jeep amid chants of “Govinda” “Govinda” to Ajjarakadu stadium where a large number of people gathered.

Yediyurappa paid his respects to the departed seer at Udupi and placed a national flag on the body, wrapped in saffron colour cloth and adorned with Tulsi garlands, even as police personnel gave a gun salute at the stadium.

A host of state ministers and senior BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders were among those who offered floral tributes at the Ajjarakadu ground.

Later, the body was flown to Bengaluru in an Indian Air Force chopper and was taken to the National College Ground for his followers to offer their tributes.

Thousands of people flocked to the National Ground to get a last glimpse of the Swamiji.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka and former chief minister Siddaramaiah were among those who paid tributes to the departed seer in Bengaluru.

In the evening, the body was taken in an open vehicle decked up like a chariot and bedecked with flowers, with portraits of the seer on the front and on all four sides.

It was followed by a convoy of vehicles to Vidyapeetha as thousands of people stood on both sides of the road to pay their last respects to the departed soul.

Yediyurappa, Uma Bharti, deputy chief minister Govind Karjol and several others laid wreaths on the body.

Again at Vidyapeetha, a gun salute was given to the seer before he was interred.

The junior pontiff Vishwa Prasanna Teertha performed rituals along with a battery of priests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined thousands of mourners in condoling the death of the seer, who was the 33rd swamiji in the lineage of the Pejawar Math heads.