Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt said on Friday that he was not against the caste system but against caste discrimination.
The seer was replying to questions of presspersons after visiting the Dalit Colony at Nittur and urging the Dalits to attend the Hindu Samajotsava to be held here on March 9.
The seer said he was against untouchability and wanted equality of all castes in Hinduism. He did not support inter-caste marriages because of differences in food habits and culture among castes, he said.
“All castes should retain their uniqueness and yet remain united as Hindus. If a person gave up consuming alcohol and meat and took ‘Hari Deekshe’ (became devoted), he could be considered as equal to Brahmins,” he said.
Regarding pankti bheda (separate seating arrangements for Brahmins and non-Brahmins) being followed in temples, the seer said he was ready to have food served to Brahmins and non-Brahmins together. “But if some traditional-minded persons do not want to sit together, I cannot do anything about it,” he said.
Untouchability was a blot on Hinduism. The Dalit community had equal right to visit temples. “Only when the welfare of Dalits takes place, can it be considered that the welfare of the Hindus has taken place,” he said.
The seer said, “To insult Dalits is to insult Hindus. Both Dalits and high caste Hindus (‘savarna’) are one and the same. Though a lot of changes have taken place in the attitude of people in the last 50 years, more changes are needed,” he said.
Visits Dalit Colony, urges people to attend Hindu Samajotsava
