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Coronation held at Ilkal amid tight security

By Our Staff Correspondent

ILKAL (BAGALKOT DISTRICT), SEPT. 12. The coronation ceremony of the Chittargi-Ilkal Vijayamahantha Math was conducted in the presence of large number of Lingayat seers here today. However, at Chittargi village, where the math's "moola peetha" lies, "rebel" devotees chose an alternative successor (a junior pontiff). They also observed a black day and burnt an effigy of the senior seer, Mahantha Swami.

Tight security

The district administration had deployed more than 2,000 policemen as a precautionary measure. However, that did not dampen the spirit of devotees, who gathered in large numbers to witness the coronation ceremony.

Amid chanting of hymns, the "samaaja seva deeksha" of Siddarama Swami began at 5 a.m. on the math premises. The Channabasava Swami of Pandomatti Veerakta Matha solemnised the function. The ritual of renaming Siddarama Swami as Gurumahantha Swami was also performed as part of the ceremony. Siddeshwara Swamiji of Jnanayogashrama (Bijapur), seers from Chitradurga, Gadag, Belgavi, Naganur, Nidasosi, Belimatha (Bangalore) and other maths of the Veerakta tradition blessed the newly elevated pontiff. Mahanta Swami administered the oath of office to his successor, Gurumahantha Swami, at the math's newly constructed Dasoha Bhavana.

Noted literary figures, M.M. Kalburgi and De. Jaware Gowda, and senior journalist, Ramzan Darga, were the main speakers at the function. They termed the enthronement of the pontiff despite the opposition from a section of devotees as a victory for Basaveshwara philosophy. The different seers called upon the Lingayat community to sink their differences.

Alternate coronation

However, in Chittargi village, 30 km from Ilkal, it was a different mood altogether. Hundreds of "rebel" devotees from Chittargi and surrounding villages held an alternate ceremony, in which a disciple of Shivayoga Mandira of Badami, was installed as the "successor" to Mahanta Swami.

They also decided to organise a formal coronation function after the release of the villagers who were arrested. The senior seer camp refused to attach any significance to the actions of the "rebels." An aide of the senior seer said that the events at Chittargi were unimportant.

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