Ashta Mutt seers cannot become govt workers: Pejawar seer

Ashta Mutt seers cannot become govt workers: Pejawar seer

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, June 12, 2013: Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt has said that there is no chance of the Pontiffs of the Ashta mutts becoming government workers.

Speaking to reporters at the Mutt here on June 11, Tuesday, the seer clarified that the funds contributed by the devotees to the Mutt are being utilized for the society. “The Chief Minister has already stated that the government has no intentions to take over the Krishna Mutt. Some are alleging that the  Ashta Mutt authorities were opposing taking over of the Mutt by the Government, just with an eye on the  funds  of the Mutt,” the seer said adding the  funds collected by way of contributions from devotees as well as other sources of income were insuffice and the paryaya  is being held  with the help of devotees. “The Mutts had to go in for loans during the Paryaya and there has been no savings,” he clarified.

On the notification of the Krishna Mutt  along with several other temples during the chief ministership of SM Krishna, The Pejawar seer said the Krishna Mutt too was included in the list by a lower grade officer with ulterior motives and without  even taking the senior authorities into confidence.” Even the then CM was unaware   of this and once he came to know of it he decided to denotify but them his tenure had ended. Finally, the Mutt was denotified during Yeddyurappa’s tenure, the seer said.

“A district, taluk level officer had demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the Paryaya seer during the SM Krishna regime. The denial of the same led to the notification of the Krishna Mutt,” the seer alleged.

Continuing, the seer said “In the year 1951, the then Madras Government had appointed an Administrative Officer for the Mutt. Later the court cancelled the same. Though the Supreme Court has ruled that the Krishna Mutt was a temple where there is an open entry for the public, it has also clarified that it is under the administration of Ashta Mutts.”

The seer further said the moves to take over only the Krishna Mutt belonging to the minority Madhwa tradition, without touching the  Shringeri, Adichunchanagiri and Dharmasthala temples, is not acceptable.