Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Nov 9: Pejawar Math head, Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji, who also happens to be a trustee of Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Theerthakshetra Trust, met Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, on Monday November 8 evening at New Delhi.

The Swamiji was in Delhi to receive the 'Padma Vibhushan' civilian award announced by the Indian government posthumously for his Guru and predecessor at the Math, the late Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji. During the exchange of pleasantries with the Swamiji, the Prime Minister especially recollected his association with Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji.

Both of them then held consultation on the issue of the progress of the construction of Sri Ram Mandir. The Swamiji felicitated the Prime Minister on the occasion by placing the Yakshagana headgear on his head, draping a shawl around him and by presenting sandal paste and Nirmalya Tulasi twigs in the form of the Prasadam of Lord Krishna placed on a silver platter. An oil painting made by painter from Udupi, Vasanthalaxmi Hebbar in which the PM is seen standing with folded hands in front of Lord Krishna's idol at Udupi, and mementoes in which the name of Narendra Modi are carved in Sanskrit, Kannada and Tulu scripts, were presented to the PM.

Both Modi and Swamiji expressed happiness at this meeting. On this occasion, the Swamiji extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Udupi during his current term as the Prime Minister and the PM asserted that he will be visiting Udupi.

The Swamiji gave a written petition containing four of his demands i.e., to implement cow slaughter prohibition act all over the country, freeing Hindu centres of faith from the clutches of the government control and making them autonomous all over the country, celebrating the birth anniversary of Maharshi Vedavyas either as 'Philosophical Day' or 'Spiritual Day' through programmes organized by the government, and including Tulu language in the eighth schedule of the constitution. Modi assured that he will look into these demands.

Pejawar Math Diwan M Raghuramacharya, D P Ananth and social worker Vasudev Bhat Perampalli who is close to the Swamiji, were present during the meeting.