Tabla Thatha Thimmappa

Tabla Thatha Thimmappa passed away peacefully at about 6:00 PM on April 23. He was about 110 years of age.

Tabla Master, so known because of his skill playing the tabla drums during bhajans, was an ardent devotee of Swamiji since 1963 and a very active member of the Bangalore bhajan group. He could often be seen at the Bangalore ashram, encouraging the bhajan group, singing, and driving the beat playing cymbals. He was a short man, well built, and of seemingly timeless age.

It was Tabla Master who helped instigate the practice of the Bangalore and other pilgrims parading through Adivarapupeta village behind a photo of Shivabalayogi on their way to the ashram for Mahashivaratri.

He was quite healthy right until the end -- besides being hard of hearing and cataract in both eyes. He stopped taking solid food for the previous few days and lived on fluids.

Several of Thatha Thimmappa's children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Swamiji’s devotees now.

We know that Shri Swamiji will guide this devotee on his onward journey with much peace.