Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi 

Udupi, Apr 20: "I will oppose the appointing of a new successor to Shiroor Math, while property matter of the respective math is still in the High Court. We had approached the High Court of Karnataka and learnt that the hearing of the case is still in process," said Lathavya Acharya, brother of the late Shiroor Math seer Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji and managing trustee of Shiroor Math Bhakta Samithi.

He was speaking in a press meet held at his residence here on Tuesday, April 20, "We are approached High Court because we found some issues with property documents of Shiroor Math."

"According to a Constitution drafted by the Math seers, the successor should have Vedic knowledge and must have studied them for at least 10 years. But now Sode Vallabha Swamiji is appointing a young boy to be the successor. There could be a chance of financial irregularities in the Math," said Lathavya Acharya.

Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji, the coronated pontiff of Sode Vadiraja Math has been portraying himself as the coronated pontiff of Shiroor Math for the past several months. He has also executed certain legal documents in the nature of the power of attorney, agreements of sale etc., pertaining to the properties belonging to Shiroor Math. We wish to state that neither Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji is a coronated pontiff of Shiroor Math nor does he have any right or authority to deal with the properties belonging to Shiroor Math. His acts in executing legal documents pertaining to the properties of Shiroor Math by representing himself as the pontiff of the Math is not only inappropriate but also illegal. We have taken necessary legal steps by causing the issuance of legal notices, filing cases before the jurisdictional criminal courts as well as the High Court of Karnataka in Bengaluru seeking necessary legal action against Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji and certain other persons who are closely associated with him for their illegal acts," he added. 

"We have also learnt from the news that Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji invited a press meet to announce the appointment of a new pontiff for Shiroor Math," Lathavya Acharya said.

"We strongly protest such acts of Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji not only for the reason he does not have any right or authority to appoint a pontiff for Shiroor Math but also for the reason that his proposal of appointing a minor child as the pontiff of the Math goes against all known sources of religious texts and customs. We have all reasons to believe that there are invisible forces who are dictating the above scheme of events with an ulterior motive of knocking off and siphoning all the movable and immovable properties belonging to Shiroor Math to satisfy their greed," he maintained.

Adding to this he said, "We strongly feel that the religious sentiments of the devotees and the reputation of Shiroor Math which is rich with decades of celebrated history should not be affected or tainted by the greed of few individuals of the society."

"The devotees of Shiroor Math strongly protest the acts of Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji and would not recognise any of his appointments to the Shiroor Math. Despite the above clarification, if he would proceed to announce the appointment of any person as the coronated pontiff of Shiroor Math, such acts would not only be in nullity in the eyes of law but would certainly warrant initiation of necessary legal action by the devotees of Shiroor Math," he added.

"Any interference to the properties or affairs of the Math by any person appointed by Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji or any person acting under the instructions of such appointee would certainly be prosecuted by setting the criminal law into motion against such persons," he warned.

Vadiraja Acharya and Prahlad Acharya were present.