The Hindu

Udupi, Jan 13: More than 50 scholars of nearly 24 Madhwa Maths met at the Sri Krishna Math to discuss the issue of the foreign visit by Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Puttige Math.

Briefing presspersons at the meet, scholars Haridasa Bhat and Tamraparni Srinivasa Acharya said on Saturday that the unanimous decision of the scholars was that Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji should not worship Lord Krishna at the Sri Krishna Temple. The Puttige seer should make alternative arrangements for worshipping of Lord Krishna, such as taking a disciple (junior seer). Till such time, the junior seer took charge, the ‘Krishna puja’ should be done by other seers of Ashta Maths. The “Dharmashastras” were clearly against foreign travel. “If a person visits foreign countries for over 15 days, even if he repents, he cannot worship Lord Krishna. The Puttige seer can only look after the administrative matters of Paryaya. He can neither worship Lord Krishna nor can he ascend the ‘Sarvajna Peetha’. Just as the country has a Constitution, the Sri Krishna Math also has its constitution,” they said.

Mr. Bhat and Mr. Acharya said many attempts had been made to dissuade the Puttige seer from visiting foreign countries. But he considered the issue “irrelevant”. Though the scholars of the Puttige Math were called for the Saturday meeting, they did not turn up. If the scholars of Puttige Math called them for a discussion on the issue of foreign visit, they were ready to discuss it “any time”, they said. The scholars would be handing over a memorandum on the decision taken today to the Puttige seer. The Puttige seer alone could never perform all the 14 pujas daily to Lord Krishna if he ascended the ‘Sarvajna Peetha’ by defying everybody. The cooperation of the swamijis of the Ashta Maths was necessary for the successful conduct of the “Krishna Puja”. This was not a conflict of maths as was being portrayed in the media but a matter of faith. The scholars were not interested in taking the matter to the courts or indulging in street protests, Mr. Bhat and Mr. Acharya said.

Later talking to presspersons, Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said that according to legal experts and supporters of Puttige Math, there was no difference between the Paryaya Peetha and the Sarvajna Peetha. He said the problem could be solved if the Puttige seer took a “shishya”. The Sarvajna Peetha and Paryaya Peetha are one and the same. But it was possible that the Puttige seer would ignore everybody and ascend the Paryaya Peetha. “Compromise and talks are the only way to solve the problem. Talks are on with the Puttige seer and there was ‘positive progress’”, Vishwesha Tirtha said.