Udupi, (The Hindu): Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami not following ‘sanyasa dharma’: Vishwesha Tirtha Swami. Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt said on Wednesday that Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Mutt should get a junior seer appointed to his mutt through Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swami of Sode Mutt as the Shiroor seer was not following ‘sanyasa dharma.’

The Pejawar seer, the seniormost seer among the Ashta Mutts, told The Hindu that the Shiroor seer had himself admitted that he had not followed the ‘sanyasa dharma’ and had children. Hence he could not offers prayers (‘puje’) to the presiding deities of the Shiroor Mutt.

“The Shiroor seer has told me personally several times and even in a meeting that he has not followed the sanyasa dharma,” he said.

“Hence the junior seer would have to be appointed by the Sode Mutt seer as the Sode Mutt is the Dwandwa Mutt (or pair mutt) of Shiroor Mutt,” he said

Four pairs

Sri Madhwacharya, the propounder of Dwaita philosophy, made four pairs of Ashta Mutts or eight mutts of Udupi, known as the Dwandwa Mutt system, whereby the other mutt of the pair could take up important matters related to its pair in cases of emergencies.

Asked if the Shiroor seer should stop being the head of Shiroor Mutt, the Pejawar seer said that when the Shiroor seer had agreed that he was not following sanyasa dharma, it would not be possible for him to continue as its head. “We have told the Shiroor seer to make arrangements to take a junior seer through the Sode Mutt. The new seer will then head the Shiroor Mutt,” he said.

‘Already informed’

“We have already informed the Shiroor seer and we are awaiting his response. We will think of the next step after getting the Shiroor seer’s response and, if necessary, hold a meeting of other seers of the Ashta Mutts,” he said.

Asked if the Shiroor seer had attended the meeting of the seers of the Ashta Mutts held here on July 1, the Pejawar seer replied in the negative.