Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Mutt dies in Udupi, post-mortem ends
Udupi, July 19: Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Mutt (one of the Ashta Mutts of Udupi) passed away on Thursday. Shiroor Mutt seer had been admitted to the KMC hospital in Udupi following severe health complications occurring apparently due to food poisoning. Moola Shiroor Mutt at Shiroor village is about 24 km from Udupi.
Post-mortem was conducted at KMC hospital in Manipal in presence of Manipal Police.
According to reports, Sode Mutt seer will take a call on the last rites of the Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji.
Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji (55) was the 30th pontiff of the mutt. He was initiated at the age of 8 years in June 1971.
[Read More: Poisoning suspected in Shiroor Mutt seer's death, autopsy underway]
The seer grabbed attention after he had announced that he would contest as an Independent candidate or from the BJP, if given a ticket, from Udupi Assembly constituency in the recently concluded Karnataka assembly elections.
However, he withdrew his nomination. After withdrawing his nomination to contest as an Independent, Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji has not been seen in public for a while.
In March, an emergency meeting of seers of the Astha mutts of Udupi decided to take action against Lakshmivara Theertha Seer for his allegations against them.
A TV channel broadcast an alleged audio clip of the seer stating that he had a child and seers of other Astha mutts too had children.
However, the Shiroor seer has clarified that he didn't say it and somebody had mimicked him. He also said the clipping was six months old and he had approached the courts about it.
Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami
Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji (55) was the 30th pontiff of the mutt. He was initiated at the age of 8 years in June 1971.
Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami with idol of Lord Krishna
He was to file a criminal case over the issue of the seers of Ashta Mutts not returning the idols of the presiding deity of Shiroor Mutt to him. As per The Hindu, he had given the idols of presiding deities of the Shiroor Mutt to the junior seer of Admar Mutt and urged him to keep them at the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple on account of his ill-health. On his recovery, he sought the idols from the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple. But the seers of the six of the Ashta Mutts refused to give it, which was a breach of trust, he said.
Minister Pramod Madhwaraj coveys condolence
Minister Pramod Madhwaraj conveyed condolences on passing away of the seer. Madhwaraj told a private TV channel, "Swamiji was pro-poor and progressive in his thoughts and actions."
Vishwesha Tirtha Swami's advice
Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt wanted Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami to appoint a junior seer to his mutt through Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swami of Sode Mutt as the Shiroor seer was not following ‘sanyasa dharma.'
Versatile seer who loved playing drums
The seer was interested in swimming and playing the drums. Noted percussionist Sivamaniwas in Shiroor to lay foundation stone laying ceremony of the music school.
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