Puttige Seer should not perform pooja in Krishna Mutt: Ex seer

Bangalore, Dec 22: Puttige mutt seer Sri Vibhudesha Teertha swamiji should voluntarily not perform Pooja at Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt, Mr S L Rao a former swamji of Mutt has said.

Sri Vibhudesha Teertha swamiji taking over the reins of Shri Krishna mutt in the upcoming Paryaya had kicked up a raging controversy, as the other seers of the asta (eight) mutts opposing his ascendancy. They term it as 'unethical' as he had stepped on a foreign land when he toured the US some time ago. Puttige mutt, which is in Udupi, is one among the asta mutts.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Rao, who was also an erstwhile mutt chief, gave up the Peetha in 1969 to pursue his own interests. He too had entered Sanyasaahsrama at the age of 13 and performed Krishna Pooja from 1954-1956. He gave up Peetha to lead a normal life and handed over reins to Shri Vidyamanya Teertha of Palimar Mutt then.

"To hold the sanctity of the mutt I along with another sanyasi from Sirur mutt, who had also given up the reins to uphold the sanctity, have given up our ashrama names and are now called by our original names. Even Vidhyabhushana of Kukke Subramanya Mutt also gave up his position few years back and is leading a normal life," he said.

He said he had been reading in media that Puttige Mutt chief wanted to take over reins of Krishna mutt in the upcoming Paryaya.

"We feel that it is next to impossible to stay pious upon one's visit to US as living conditions, weather conditions do not permit you to live so," he felt.

He said he would second the opinion of Ashta mutt's that his visit was uncalled for. He was pained to hear this and request that Sri Vibhudesha Teertharu should give up his stand and depute his junior to perform the Pooja at Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt.

UNI