The Hindu

• Puttige swamiji should respect tradition: Vishwesha Tirtha

Udupi, Jan 14: The crisis facing the Ashta Maths over the ascension of Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Puttige Math to the Paryaya Peetha and worship of Lord Krishna at Sri Krishna Math/Temple here worsened further on Sunday with Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math announcing that he would undertake a three-day fast from the afternoon of January 15, if the Puttige seer did not change his stand.

Speaking at the Devotees Conference to “protect the traditional rules of worshipping Lord Krishna at the Sri Krishna Math”, Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji said the rules of worshipping Lord Krishna in no way hampered the progress of society. “If we relax these rules, it will create more problems in the future,” he said.

He said the Puttige seer should respect the opinion of the majority of seers of the Ashta Maths. He should also listen to the opinions of the scholars of the Dwaita philosophy and other Madhwa Peethadipatis (seers following the Madhwa tradition). “You (Puttige seer) have done ‘sagarolangana’ (crossed the seas), but please do not do ‘sampradaya ulangana’ (break the tradition)”, he said. The Pejawar seer said that he had not taken the issue as a matter of prestige. This was a “separation between brothers, which will not last long”. The Puttige seer should realise that people were talking poorly about the Ashta Maths. He was still optimistic of a solution. “But if no solution to the impasse emerges by the afternoon of January 15, I will undertake a three-day fast, during which I will take only water. My fast will end on the afternoon of January 18,” Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji said.

Satyatma Tirtha Swamiji of Uttaradi Math urged the Puttige seer to take a “shishya” (disciple – junior seer) through the Krishnapur seer. Till such time the junior seer could take charge, the other seers could worship Lord Krishna. “By your (Puttige seer’s) sacrifice your greatness will increase”, he said.

Resolution

Many seers and scholars attended the conference. At the end of the conference, a resolution was adopted. The resolution urged the Puttige seer to take a “shishya” through Krishnapur seer (Puttige Math and Krishnapur Math are Dwandwa Maths). The Puttige seer should respect the greatness of the “Sarvajna Peetha.”

He should put an end to the pain being caused to the devotees. The Puttige seer should respect the “Dharmashastras” (religious texts) and the opinion of other seers, it was felt.

A delegation from the conference then submitted a copy of the resolution at the Puttige Math. Some persons in the delegation were holding placards urging the Puttige seer to respect tradition.

Some persons in the Puttige Math shouted slogans in favour of the Puttige seer. The police had made tight security arrangements outside the Puttige Math.