Pics: Harshad Vorkady
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 6: Udupi Pejavar Mutt Swamiji, Sri Vishweshateertha, called upon the union government to take over the responsibility of building a temple dedicated to Lord Sri Ram at Ayodhya. 

He was addressing a press conference in the city on Tuesday October 5. He also wanted the government to take the initiative in bringing Muslims and Hindus together for a harmonious dialogue on the issue. The Swamiji also revealed that he had held talks with the central government on this issue.

The Swamiji is on a ‘Samarasya Yatre (walkhathon for harmony)’ in the district from October 6 to 8. Convenor of the Yatre, M B Puranik, said that the Swamiji will be visiting important towns, villages and areas in the district during the said period. “Besides giving advice to the people about observation of Hinduism, methods of prayer and simple methods of worship, he would be distributing books containing prayer procedures during the tour,” Puranik explained.

The Swamiji, escorted by activists and religious leaders, will move through different areas of Ullal on Wednesday and perform afternoon puja at Uchchila Vishnumurty temple, Puranik said, asking the volunteers to clean up roads and lanes during the Padayatre of the Swamiji. The Swamiji will offer puja at Ullall Bhagawati temple on October 7 and Kavu Panchalingeshwara temple on October 8, and visit nearby places in an effort to bring together suffering members of the community. He will make an effort to stop cow slaughter, inculcate a sense of patriotism and   preach simple Hindu traditions of living, said S Pradip Kumar Kalkura, another convener of the committee.

Office bearers of the committee, Manohar Tulajaram, Krishnamurty, Gopal Kuttar, Madhusudan Acharya and Prakash Kumar were present at the press conference.