Udupi: Swami Vishveshateerta of Pejavar mutt, Cites SC Ruling not to take over Admin of Sri Krishna

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 12 Jun 2013: The heads of Asta mutts will not be ready to work under the administrator appointed by the state authorities through taking over its administration by religious endowment department.  It will not allow the state authorities in taking over the Krishna mutt by religious endowment department, clarified Swami Vishveshateerta of Pejavar mutt, one among the Asta mutts.
Addressing the media persons during a press meet held here on Tuesday June 11, Swami Vishveshateerta said that the heads of Asta mutts are serving in the governing council of Krishna mutt and also serve as priests, who will not work under a government officer, stressed Swami Vishveshateerta.

 

Swami Vishveshateerta alleged that taking over Krishna mutt by state authorities will not justify the social responsibility of state and shows its partiality, when Sharada temple and Adichunchanagiri temple in Sringeri and Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunateshwar temple is being spared by them, alleged Swami Vishveshateerta.

If the state authorities exclude the above mentioned temples that are governed by the descendants of lineage families since ages from the purview of religious endowment department; it cannot take over the reign of Krishna mutt, stressed Swami Vishveshateerta.

‘It’s true that the erstwhile Madras government appointed an administration to Krishna mutt in 1951, but it was ratified by Supreme Court (SC) later. The SC ruled that Krishna mutt is a temple government by Asta mutts, which is free to offer prayers by all including Dalits; such temples cannot be brought under religious endowment department, added Swami Vishveshateerta.

‘There is no truth in the allegations that the heads of Asta mutts are opposing the state government’s move because the devotees offer crore of rupees in its offering boxes/revenues.  The money collected in offering boxes in Krishna mutt is not even sufficient feed the innumerable devotees and for upkeep of facilities. The shortfall is set off with the contributions of wealthy devotees.   There were instances where the temple authorities borrowed to manage the daily overheads, added Swami Vishveshateerta.

 
Whether government official responsible for this state move?

Whether a government official who demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 is responsible for the controversial state move to take over the reign of Krishna mutt by religious endowment department?  Swami Vishveshateerta reaffirms.

 
A official of religious endowment department in Udupi had demanded Rs 50,000 from the head of Sri Krishna mutt for some reason during the reign of CM S M Krishna (1999 – 2004).  He has offered the bribe, while the disgruntled officer as vengeance had included the name of Krishna mutt among the list of 150 temples that were proposed to take over by religious endowment department. Neither CM Krishna nor cabinet ministers ever realized this act of department officer.

When CM Krishna realized this, by then his term was over.  Meanwhile, Dharam Singh who succeeded Krishna did not take any action in this regard heeding to pressure from some quarters.  At last, the former CM B S Yeddyurappa de-notified Sri Krishna from the proposed list, said Swami Vishveshateerta.

Swami Vishveshateerta refused to divulge the name of that government officer and also the religious head who refused to offer bribe.