Karnataka   

Puttige seer: ascension is my right

UDUPI: Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Swami of Puttige Math said on Monday that the verdict from the court of the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) “shows that the forthcoming Paryaya [right to worship Lord Krishna at Sri Krishna Temple/Math for two years] will take place successfully by the blessings of Lord Krishna and Mukhyaprana.”

The Puttige swami told presspersons here that the verdict would inspire the other seers of the Ashta Maths to cooperate. He was ready to participate in the talks if he was invited by the other seers of the Ashta Maths. At present, he was in talks with Satyatma Tirtha Swami of Uttaradi Math, who is trying to find a solution to the problem. The matters relating to the “Dharmashastras” had been discussed threadbare in the court. “The verdict has calmed the situation and will help facilitate a solution,” he said.

When asked about the three-day fast which Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math intends to start from Tuesday, if he (Sugunendra Tirtha) did not change his stand, he (Puttige seer) said the Pejawar seer would soften his stand. “I am optimistic about it.”

He said that he had only philosophical difference with the Pejawar seer and other scholars. “They consider only India as a holy land, while I consider the whole earth as holy. I do not believe people living in foreign countries are sinners. They say foreign travel is a sin. But where is the definition of a foreign country in the Dharmashastras. If one goes by what is said in the religious scriptures, there is a ban on travel to West Bengal and some parts of Kerala. They should tell if Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a part of India going by the Dharmashastras.”

He said the Pejawar seer himself had felicitated him on his return from the United States. If it was wrong, why did the Pejawar seer felicitate him, he sought to know. He clarified that he was not responsible for the “peetha tyaga” (abdication of post) by earlier Pejawar junior seer Vishwavijaya (whose foreign tour also generated a controversy). “It is simply a misleading propaganda”, he said.

When a straight question was asked whether he would ascend the Paryaya Peetha, the Puttige seer said, “Lord Krishna will help me ascend the Paryaya Peetha and worship him [Lord Krishna]. It is all in the hands of Lord Krishna.

“Ascension to Paryaya Peetha is my right and the right of Puttige Math. I am not taking it as a matter of prestige. I stick to my principles on the foreign visit issue.” When there were persistent queries on his ascension, he quipped, “It will be the Paryaya of the Puttige Math.” When asked what he would do if the seven seers of Ashta Maths did not cooperate with him after his ascension especially since 14 “pujas” have to be performed to Lord Krishna daily, he said: “I expect other seers to cooperate with me on this issue.”

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