Pejawar seer defends offer of 'deeksha' to Kurubas

Seer of the Pejawar Mutt in Udupi, Vishwesha Teertha on Saturday defended his offer to give ‘Vaishnava Deeksha’ to people belonging to the Kuruba community.

Speaking to reporters at Galagali village in Bilagi taluk, he said, “As Kanakadasa was an ardent devotee of Sri Krishna, people belonging to Kuruba community should take Vaishnava Deeksha. However, deeksha need not be taken under any compulsion, it is left to the discretion of individuals.”

“The followers of Kanakadasa are the slaves of Hari and not of Brahmins,” the seer added.  
On the invitation extended by heads of the mutts belonging to the Kuruba community for him to take ‘Halumata Deeksha’, the seer said as he was not a follower of the Halumata tradition, the question of taking deeksha didn’t arise. However, Vishwesha Teertha said he was ready for a debate on the issue.