Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt said on Monday that he saw nothing wrong in allowing the ‘Souharda Upahara Koota’ where a gathering of Muslims broke their fast and later offered prayers at the Annabrahma Dining Hall near the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple Complex on June 24.
Speaking to mediapersons after Sri Rama Sene founderPramod Muthalik opposed the Souharda Upahara Koota, the seer said that his principle had been loyalty to one’s own religion and tolerance to others. The seer said that he had been working towards promoting harmony between Hindus and Muslims since 1955. But he had also protested when the Hindu community had faced injustice.
“The ‘Souharda Upahara Koota’ and ‘namaz’ was allowed to promote harmony. “It is wrong to see it on communal lines. Compassion, trust and harmony among communities should not be disturbed,” he said.
He said that owing to the ‘Souharda Upahara Koota’, a feeling that that Hindus were broadminded would develop among the Muslims. Besides, the Annabrahma Dining Hall was on the outer portion of the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple complex. The ‘Souharda Koota’ was not held in the ‘chowki’ inside the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple Complex. “There is no affront to the Hindu religion owing to the ‘Souharda Koota.’” he said.
He said that it was not just the Muslims but some Hindus too were consuming beef. “Hence, we can only advice them to give up beef and not boycott them. There should be no attempt to create confusion and anger in the society over this issue,” he said.
“Muslims have had their mosques inaugurated by me in Kasaragod, Mangaluru and Bhatkal. They have invited me to deliver lectures in mosques. They supported me during the ‘Udupi Chalo’ issue,” he said.
“The propounder of Dwaita philosophy, Sri Madhwacharya, maintained friendly relations with Muslim kings and was respected by them. It was the Muslim kings who had donated lands to Mantralaya Mutt and had good relations with Uttaradi Mutt,” the Pejawar seer said.
