I have been reading in newspapers and magazines about the controversy surrounding the imminent ascension of Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Udupi Sri Puttige Mutt to the seat of the famous Sri Udupi Sri Krishna Temple in what is known as Paryaya — a traditional bi-yearly rotation of seers of Ashta Mutts (8 mutts) entitled to assume administrative office and also perform puja to the idol of Sri Krishna.
It seems there is no unanimity among other seven Mutt heads to allow Sri Puttige Seer assume this high office. Alternatively, if allowed to hold administrative office, some of them do not want him to perform puja to the idol of Sri Krishna. It is like saying one can marry but shall not have conjugal rights! Well, strange are the ways of God as it is and stranger are the ways of those who claim to be custodians of God's house of worship or idols there in, with apologies to Richard Dawkins, the author of the book The God delusion.
The Udupi Sri Krishna temple Paryaya controversy once again affirms a rationalist's belief that the strength and glory of any religious faith is that it does not depend on rational justification. Naturally today I find an array of writers, seers and their bhaktas busy defending their prejudices and their seers. Here in this case, one group is led by Sri Viswesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt who has the aura of being the senior most among the Ashta Mutts and a Patriarch among the seers, deserving special reverence. The other group is led by the seer who is the very cause for this controversy — Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Puttige Mutt whom I may like to call the Flying Swamiji (with apologies to our Flying Sikh Milka Singh of Olympic fame).
Whatever might be the claim of the group led by Pejawar Seer, [that there is unity among the seven Mutts in their opinion that the Puttige Seer Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji should not ascend the seat of Sri Krishna Temple], there indeed is an undercurrent of dissension. Like in JD (S). Many MLAs at that time were in favour of transferring power to BJP. See, what happened now.
Some of the seers are simply overwhelmed by the seniority of Pejawar seer and his social and political clout. The resistance to Puttige seer's right to ascend Sri Krishna Temple office and the right to perform puja to Sri Krishna's idol is because that Sri Puttige seer has violated the time honoured hoary tradition by crossing the seas to go to America and other foreign countries.
Indeed this looks like a lame excuse to prevent the Puttige seer from ascending the seat of Sri Krishna Temple. After all Puttige seer did not go abroad for pleasure or business. Well, he went there for propagating the Hindu religion to those who are not initiated into Hinduism or to educate those who either do not know the very existence of this religion (as I learnt in a Cairo shop) or carry a lot of misconceptions about Hinduism.
The defenders of Puttige seer in this controversy have said that the other seers of the Ashta Mutts too have crossed the seas, the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean or the Arabian Sea, while travelling by air from different parts of India. Or is there any definition laid down in Dharma Shastras for the term "crossing the seas"? The world being round it is difficult to say where one sea ends and another begins except for the man-made demarcation. It is, therefore, difficult to say, while flying, if one has only partly crossed the sea or fully!
Be that as it may, according to some, there is absolutely no substance in Pejawar Seer's assertion that Dharma Shastras say that those seers of Ashta Mutts who cross the seas and go abroad lose their right to perform puja to idol of Sri Krishna. In fact, Dharma Shastras never mention about aero plane. It only speaks of ships, according to my friend. It says the seers should not cross the seas by ship. The obvious reason is very well understandable for those times. After all, in a ship of those days the Seers were unable to perform their puja rituals and also follow Dharmik traditions, say for example, in the matter of bathing, food and performing rituals of prayer and puja. At the time Dharma Shastras were laid down, there was absolutely no concept of an aero plane or even of modern ship. If today a new Dharma Shastra were to be laid down, it would not consider crossing the sea by aero plane or ship a taboo.
It is also said in defence of Puttige seer that he never carried the Veera Vittala idol of Puttige Mutt abroad. He had carried only Vishwa Vittala idol given to him by his Guru, thereby adhering to the traditions of the Mutt. Moreover, in these days, in this age of reason, where people are questioning the very existence of God mentioned in holy books and as explained by the teachers, preachers and seers, it is really unthinkable that a religious person becomes unfit to worship an idol for the reason he has crossed the sea as in this case. If we dwell deep into this issue, it can be asked if all the other Ashta Mutt seers are fully qualified under Dharmik principles to either ascend the seat of the temple or to perform puja to the idol. Which is why Jesus Christ rebuked his people saying, "Let him, who is without sin, first throw the stone."
Pejawar Mutt Seer himself has visited the humble abodes of humble Dalits and blessed them, despite there being a taboo on such visits. This noble and extraordinary act on the part of Pejawar seer had not only surprised many but also made the common man see the universal character of the Hindu religion in action. Of course, his detractors had wryly commented that he later went through a purification ritual. Let it be. But, everybody praised him for his all inclusive nature? Now he wants to exclude Puttige seer. For what?
Once again, speaking of observing all the religious traditions and rituals to the last word given in Dharma Shastras, one is reminded of the irreligious manner in which money in the form of coins, is used in today's religious rituals like tharpana, homa, havana etc. The coins that are used have english language embossed on them with different images of trees, animals or humans. According to the Dharma Shastras, my friend says, only the coin known as Rama Tanka, Lakshmi Varaha and such coins with the images of Gods and Goddesses should be used. Doesn't it amount to violation of Dharma Shastras? asks my friend.
It is not a question of 800 year old history we should consider here. We should go far beyond this period and understand the evolution of Dharmik and religious rituals, practices and traditions over the period. People of the civilised world of those days did not even know the existence of America and Australia. Why the existence of America was known only when Amerigo Vespusi and Columbus discovered it in 1492. We have come a long way since then and so much is made of an innocent act of flying to America.
Hindus do talk of other religions being fanatical and fundamentalist in these troubled days. But what do you call the present controversy of Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt Paryaya? An act of religious fundamentalism of a biased kind? Somebody had asked a question: “Pray, tell me what great harm would be caused to Hindu Dharma if Puttige Seer does not perform puja to Sri Krisna's idol for two years?”
There cannot be a more unintelligent question than this. I would ask a counter question: What great harm would befall Hindu Dharma if Puttige seer performs puja to Sri Krishna's idol for two years? Will the gates of Hades open up spewing dead souls of sinners upon this land? I do not think Lord Sri Krishna, who gave darshan to a Dalit of those days, Kanakadasa, despite the prohibition by fundamentalist Brahmins, will frown if Puttige seer performs puja to Him.
Incidentally Puttige seer, it is said, has been doing a very good work abroad, especially in America spreading the message of Hinduism for many years now. He has also developed contacts with many social, religious and political leaders, including President of America George Bush, which is no ordinary accomplishment. Indeed, a true spiritual ambassador of Hindus of our country like others before him and at present. It is also said during Puttige seers Paryaya Bush is likely to visit Udupi. If it happens, who knows, there will be another controversy. Well, let us take all the controversies as Lord Krishna's leela and be happy!
K. B. Ganapathy
Editor in Chief
Star of Mysore
Mysore
