'Seers facing adultery charges to be expelled'

Seers and heads of mutts, who are facing serious charges like rape and adultery, will be excluded from Sanatana Dharma Samvardhini Sabha.

A decision to this effect taken in a meeting of pontiffs headed by Bharati Thirtha Swami, the pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.

The minutes of the meeting, which lists four decisions taken by seven seers, including the pontiff, says two other seers who were not present have also supported the decision.

"For seers, Shankara's 'Mathamnaya' is the touchstone. It was decided to expel the seers living a life that strays from the path and facing serious charges of rape and adultery," the minutes say, stressing the need for restoring the status of such mutts. It is to be seen how the decision will affect Raghaveshwara Bharati of Ramachandrapur Mutt, who is facing charges of adultery.

Apart from Bharati Thirtha Swami, Vidhushekhara Bharati Swami of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Gangadharendra Saraswati Swami of Svarnavalli Mutt, Shankarabharati Swami of Yadatore Mutt, Sachchidananda Saraswati of Hariharapura Mutt among others were present in the meeting.