Udupi: Paryaya Issue - Swamijis End Fast After CM Intervenes
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
With Inputs from DHNS
Udupi, Jan 17: Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt and Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji of Puttige Mutt have ended their fast over the issue of non-inclusion of the latter in Paryaya rituals, it is learnt.
Both of them broke their fast after the intervention of chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda who was in the district to take part in the stage programme in connection with the event.
File photo of Sri Sugunendra Swamiji and Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji beginning their fast
Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji, who felt slighted on being ignored by Sode Mutt for the Paryaya, launched protest fast on Tuesday January 17 morning. He had also alleged that Pejavar Swamiji, the senior-most among them, had not shown enough will power in resolving the issue. The latter had also faced similar charges from heads of other Mutts as well. Taking exception to the statements and denying the allegations, Pejavar Swamiji too began a counterfast the same day.
However, the Puttige swamiji will not attend the paryaya darbar. The chief minister is said to have promised to make efforts to resolve the dispute.
Sadananda Gowda, while speaking at the stage programme during the Paryaya event, said that he had urged both of the swamijis to come together and join in the Paryaya and forget their differences. He termed this mediation by him as one of most defining moments in his life after becoming the chief minister.
Pejawar formula
The Pejawar swamiji told the mediapersons that he presented a compromise formula to the fasting Puttige swamiji and Sode swamiji. The formula was not acceptable to both.
“I am not in a position to take the negotiations forward as all efforts made by me didn’t yield any positive result. However, I will be in touch with the Sode swamiji to find a solution,” he said.
The Pejawar swamiji suggested that the Puttige swamiji should give an undertaking in writing that he will not touch the idol of Lord Krishna in the sanctum sanctorum while performing pooja.
Another condition was that the Puttige swamiji should not administer ‘Sanyasa Deeksha’ to the boy proposed to be his junior. Instead, the ritual should be performed by Krishnapur Mutt swamiji Vidyasagarateertha Swami. However, the Puttige swamiji was against the idea since he felt that “the issue needs more time for a decision”.
The other formula recommended by the Pejawar swamiji was that the swamijis should vacate paryaya durbar after completion of half of the proceedings on Wednesday, so as to pave the way for the entry of Puttige swamiji to attend the durbar. But this was strongly opposed by the Sode swamiji who made his stand clear that if other swamijis move out of the durbar, he will walk out.
Earlier, Puttige swamiji Sugunendrateertha Swami said if the swamijis are adamant over the issue of not extending invitation to him for paryaya durbar, he will extend invitation to heads of all religions to the paryaya durbar during his next term.
He prefers to hold an all-religion durbar during his next paryaya, he said.