K'taka: Puthige seer ascends 'Sarvajnapeeta'

Udupi, Jan 18: Amid the row over ascension of 'Sarvajnapeeta', Sugunendra Thirtha Swamiji of Puthige Mutt has taken over as the head of the Sri Krishna Mutt here today.

The 'peetarohan' procedures went against the traditions this time as the talks between the Ashta Mutt pontiffs to settle the controversy over the 'Paryaya Peetarohan' and 'Sri Krishna Pooja', triggered by Puthige seer's foreign trips, failed to evolve a consensus.

The Puthige seer received the temple keys and 'Akshayapatra' from Sri Raghumanya Thirtha Swamiji of Bheemasena Mutt, a constituent (Upa mutt) of the Ashta Mutt, instead of receiving it from the outgoing 'paryaya' pontiff, before being offered the 'sarvajnapeeta'.

The outgoing pontiff Sri Vidyasagara Thirtha Swamiji left the temple soon after conducting his last Nirmalya Visarjan Pooja before the Puthige seer entered.

It is customary for the outgoing Paryaya seer to stay in the temple after the last Nirmalya Visarjan Pooja till the incoming seer enters the temple. He will be greeted by the outgoing seer at the entrance and offered the 'sarvajnapeeta'.

The remaining Matadhipathis of the Asta Mutts abstained from the Paryaya procession and the following public function, as the talks failed to resolve the crisis.

UNI