Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 7: Shiroor Sri Laxminvarateertha Swamiji, who is under pressure from Swamijis of other Maths to appoint his disciple at an early date so that the idols belonging to his Math which are currently worshipped at Sri Krishna Math here are returned to his Math, has refused to bend under pressure. He said that he will appoint a Shishya (disciple) just before his fourth Paryaya period which falls during 2026-28 and get the puja of Lord Krishna performed by the Shishya who will succeed him in the lineage of Swamijis of Shiroor Math.

"I have taken this decision not because of pressure exerted by other Swamijis. I had decided to do so during my third Paryaya which was held during 2010-12," he explained, speaking to a Kannada daily.

The other Swamijis here have been pressurizing Shiroor Swamiji to appoint a successor for him so that the successor can perform Puja. These Swamijis led by Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji, are saying that Shiroor Swamiji has not been following the traditions and strict practices laid out for the Swamijis to follow. Shiroor Swamiji however has plans to find out a suitable successor and adopt him just before his fourth Paryaya period and not before that. With this reaction, he has outright dismissed the demand of the Swamijis.

The Swamiji said that it is the practice of every Swamiji to select a suitable disciple when they get aged. He noted that during his fourth Paryaya period, his age would be around 65 and that before that he would select his successor. He feels that the other Swamijis are not right in bringing pressure on him to take in his Shishya immediately.