The Hindu
 
Udupi Jan 3: The crisis facing the Ashta Maths on issue of Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Puttige Math visiting foreign countries deepened after talks between the Pejawar seer and Puttige seer late on Tuesday night failed to resolve the issue.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji said the talks ended in a deadlock. He said that in the meeting the Puttige seer charged him (Pejawar seer) with conspiring to deny the former a chance to worship Lord Krishna at the Sri Krishna Math/temple. The Puttige seer reportedly alleged that he (Pejawar seer) was doing this owing to enmity and that he was the brain behind the entire opposition to Puttige seer.

Vishwesha Tirtha said he explained to the Puttige seer that the allegations made against him (Pejawar seer) were baseless. "I reminded him how I had co-operated with him. I also told him that I had no personal enmity or grudge towards him," he said.

The Pejawar seer said he would no longer initiate talks on the issue. "I will not hold any talks on this issue on my own. I will hold talks only if I am invited," he said.

Vishwesha Tirtha said all seers of the Ashta Maths had a right to speak on any issue concerning the Sri Krishna Math. Majority decision was the only yardstick to solve any problem concerning the math. Hence, if the seers of Krishnapur Math and Palimar Math (two of the Ashta Maths) agree to the contention of Puttige seer, he (Pejawar seer) would bow to the wishes of the majority on the issue.

He, however, hastened to clarify that there was no change in his personal opinion on the issue. A change in tradition was necessary when it affected the progress of society. But in this case, the society was not involved. The problem here was limited to that of worshipping Lord Krishna in the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Krishna Math. There should no change in any tradition concerning the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Krishna Math. If these rules were relaxed, it might lead to a tendency of seers visiting foreign countries to chase dollars and other forms of degeneration might creep in, he said.

He said there was no question of approaching the courts on this matter. He did not want any public disorder on the issue and appealed the devotees to remain calm. "I am an optimist and hope the crisis will be resolved," the seer added.