Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said on Monday that he was saddened by the fact that there were two processions during the Vittal Pindi festival in Udupi on September 9.
In a press release issued here on Monday, he said having two processions or two “rathotsavas” (car festivals) was not a good tradition. This would usher in a bad tradition.
He did not know the background and reasons for the two processions. The Astha Maths or eights maths of Udupi were like a family. Just as there were differences in a family, there were many differences among the Ashta Maths.
He would put in efforts to ensure that such an incident was not repeated, the seer said.
Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Puttige Math told presspersons here that he was surprised by the fact that such an incident had taken place.
It would have been better if Paryaya Sode Math had involved everybody for Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Vittal Pindi celebrations. Sode Math should have invited the seer of Shiroor Math. This controversy had erupted because of the “failure” to extend an invitation.
It had been a tradition to invite all the seers of “Ashta Maths” for festivals such as Paryaya, “Laksha Deepotsava”, “Saptotsava” and Sri Krishna Janmashtami.
Sri Vadiraja wanted all the seers of Ashta Maths to celebrate these festivals together. “If this tradition is broken, then it would be difficult to retain unity among Ashta Maths," he said.
He said that the Pejawar seer should take the initiative to bring about unity among the Ashta Maths.
It was essential to convey the message of unity among the Ashta Maths to the people. “I am sad that this did not happen (during the Vittal Pindi). I hope it will be set right in the future,” he said.
He said that Paryaya Sode Math had not even invited him to the Paryaya festival on January 18, 2012 (because he had gone to a foreign country, considered a taboo by some maths). He had gone on a fast over it. But the then Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda had requested him to give up his fast, which he agreed to. “It will be better if all the seers of “Ashta Maths” sat together and found a solution,” he said.
Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math had taken out a parallel procession around Car Street, just 15 minutes before Vishwallabha Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Sode Math during the Vittal Pindi festival here on September 9.
The parallel procession was result of the estrangement of relations between Sode Math and Shiroor Math.
It has been a tradition for Paryaya Math, in this case Sode Math, to take out a procession, which includes a “rathostsava” during the Vittal Pindi festival.
It was, perhaps, the first time that such a parallel procession was taken out, exposing the rift among seers of Ashta Maths.
