Shiroor Math seer terms fear of swamijis' foreign visits as irrational

‘Only two or three seers were against inviting Puttige seer for Paryaya'

Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Shiroor Math said on Monday that irrational fear about visits to foreign countries was behind the opposition by some Ashta Math seers.

The Shiroor seer said a few swamijis were apprehensive that foreign travel would distract the younger generation of seers and they would not even return home. “This thinking is wrong. No person can ever forget his own country, his town, and his soil. We are all bound by the rules laid down for the worship of Lord Krishna in Udupi and all seers will follow it,” he said.

The fast announced by Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math was driven by self-prestige than any logic. “Neither the Pejawar seer will yield to the Puttige seer nor will the Puttige seer give up. Maybe I should go on a fast to stop both these fasts,” he said in jest.

All the seers of the Ashta Maths should be invited for the Paryaya festivities. The Puttige seer should be allowed to participate in the Paryaya procession and Paryaya Durbar.

After all the Puttige seer had ascended the “Paryaya Peetha” in 2008-10 (after visiting the foreign countries). Only two or three seers of Ashta Maths were against inviting Puttige seer, he said.

Swamiji's efforts

Through his efforts he was successful in getting the Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swami of Sode Vadiraja Math, Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math, Sugunendra Tirtha of Puttige Math and other seers of Ashta Maths together for the “Churnotsava” festival here on Sunday. “But what was the result? While Pejawar and Puttige seers pulled one rope of the chariot (called “Brahma Ratha”), all the others seers of Ashta Maths went to another side and pulled the other rope of the chariot,” he said.

The present problem of not inviting Puttige seer to Paryaya festivities could only be solved by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda. “I pray to Lord Krishna that both the Sode and Puttige seers are together at the Paryaya Durbar function (on January 18),” the Shiroor seer said.