He was ailing for the last few years. He was felicitated on August 26 this year by the residents of Udupi when he completed 80 years.
The seer who became the 31st pontiff of Sri Admaru mutt lineage in 1945 was known for his revolutionary steps and great concern for modern education.
Born in 1928 in a tiny village of Admaru in Udupi taluk, he took ‘Sanyasa Deeksha’ at the age of 17. He is the senior most among all the seers of the Ashta mutt (Eight mutts of Udupi).
A great scholar, Sri Vibhudeshatheertha had dedicated his life in spreading the ‘Madhwa’ philosophy in and outside the country. He had actively participated in the Quit India movement.
Controversial trip
The seer had successfully completed three terms of biennial paryaya. During his third term as the paryaya seer in 1988-90 he was refrained from performing the rituals to the idol of Lord Krishna due to ‘Sagarollonghana’ (foreign tour). The rituals were performed by his junior Vishwapriyatheertha Swamiji. The seer faced stiff resistance by the community when he planned to tour abroad for raising funds for his most ambitious project of setting up of Poornaprajna Science Research Institute in Bangalore.
Research centre
The Swamiji was instrumental in setting up educational institutions in different parts of the country under Admaru mutt Education Society. He had also set up Rs 500-crore Sri Poornaprajna Research Centre of Basic Science in Bangalore for the study of basic sciences.
Last rites
Several schools and colleges in Udupi and Admaru declared holiday and all shops around the main Car Street in Udupi and Admaru were closed. The seer’s body was interred at Adamaru on Tuesday. Several political leaders including CM B S Yeddyurappa and Home Minister V S Acharya have condoled the death.
DH News Service
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