Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 16: 'Tulabhara' service was offered to Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math here at the residence of a devotee in Mallika Extension of the town on Tuesday July 15. Before that, the Swamiji addressed a press conference, dealing with some controversies that have taken centrestage of late.
"In the history of Sri Krishna Math, I am in line to be the first ever to ascend the Paryaya seat for the fifth unprecedented time during the next Paryaya term. I plan to implement various people-friendly initiatives during this period," he said. The Swamiji said that after the completion of the Chaturmasya period between July 22 and September 8 at Mumbai, he would be undertaking country-wide tour for making preparations for various projects he intends to take up during his Paryaya term.
Some of the projects he plans to implement are providing proper parking facility in the Math complex, construction of auditorium, medical facilities, toilets etc by spending five to six crore rupees, laying stress on spiritual researches, translation of spiritual works into Hindi and English, providing free power to hundreds of houses in naxal-infested areas, and setting up residential college named after Anantateertha in the compound of the original seat of the Math at Pejawar.
Reacting to the controversy over to Shirdi Sahibaba, the Swamiji said he has high respect and reverence of Saibaba, duly adding that he holds this saint as an equal to greats like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Nityananda Swamiji.
About the meeting of terrorist Hafiz Saeed by journalist, Ved Pratap Vaidik, he felt that journalists are free to meet anyone. "Journalists meet even naxals. Efforts towards achieving change of hearts is not at all wrong. This was not a government-sponsored meeting," he commented.
About the demand for ceding Kashmir, he said Kashmir cannot be allowed to be taken away from India. He felt that the issues relating to Kashmir has to be resolved by taking into confidence the locals, government, etc, and with a humanitarian touch.
He said he had participated in a meeting convened by Ganga Development authority, and given suggestions for cleansing of River Ganga. He said that he had no objection to discharge of ashes of the deceased into the river but was against discarding of corpses into the river without properly incinerating them and also emptying effluents of various industries and factories into this river.
Junior Swamiji of the Math, Sri Vishwaprasannateertha, Karnataka Bank Ltd managing director, K jayaram Bhat, Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, M B Puranik, Kumble Sundar Rao, and others were present.