The Hindu : Karnataka News : Veerashaiva seers warn Khandre on change of name

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Veerashaiva seers warn Khandre on change of name

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR, JAN. 6. The `Pancha Peethacharyas of Veerashaivism' — religious heads of Rambhapuri, Srisailam, Ujjain, Kedar, and Kashi peethas — have warned Bheemanna Khandre, president of the All-India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, and its office-bearers against changing the name of the mahasabha and that of the Veerashaiva Bhavan, which is coming up in Bangalore.

Prasanna Renuka Veerasomeshwara Deshikendra, the peethacharya of Rambhapuri Peetha, Balehonnur, who is camping here for the five-day `Dharma Jagriti Samavesha,' released a statement in this regard to presspersons today.

The peethacharya said: "we learnt that Mr. Khandre has convened a meeting of the mahasabha with a subject on its agenda to change the word `Veerashaiva' into `Lingayata.'"

He said that in 1904, Hanagal Kumara Swamiji founded the mahasabha and since then it has been called `All-India Veerashaiva Mahasabha.' It is unfortunate that Mr. Khandre and the mahasabha's office-bearers are distorting its name when its centenary is going to be celebrated, he said.

`Unnecessary'

On the bhavan, the seer said that people from all sections of the Veerashaiva community had contributed towards the cost of the building. "We have also got support for it." All this was possible because it was called `Veerashaiva Bhavan.' It is unnecessary to change its name at this stage. The peethacharya said: "We will be constrained to act if Mr. Khandre and his team of office-bearers go ahead changing the names."

"Persons conversant with the basic tenets of Veershaivism must occupy posts in the mahasabha. Members of the present team lack knowledge of the religion. They are precipitating controversial issues," he said.

"We have been trying to keep the community united, but some vested interests are out to break the unity. We ask the people of the community to beware of such elements," the peethacharya said.

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