Appoint junior pontiff, Shiroor Mutt seer told

The Shiroor Mutt is surrounded by a new controversy, with allegations of not appointing a junior pontiff, among others.

There are also allegations that the priests at Shiroor Mutt, one of the Ashta Mutts have failed to perform the pooja to the presiding deity ‘Sri Anna Vittala’.

The seers of Ashta Mutt other than Kaniyur and Puttige Mutts took part in a meeting held under the leadership of the Pejawar Mutt seer on Monday night and decided that the presiding deity, which is currently under the possession of Palimaru seer Sri Vidhyadheesha Theertha Swami, would be handed over to the Shiroor Mutt seer Lakshmivara Theertha Swami only after he appoints a junior pontiff.

Pooja daily

It is said that the Shiroor Mutt seer, who was sick a few days ago, had decided to hand over the presiding deity to Adamaru Mutt seer to perform the pooja. It is the rule in the Ashta Mutts that the respective seers should be performing the pooja to the presiding deity of their Mutts daily. In case of some emergency, other seers can perform the rites, given that the pooja is offered daily. However, the Adamaru Mutt seer handed over the Pattad Devaru to the present Paryaya Palimaru seer.

It was also decided at the meeting that the Sode Vadiraj Mutt seer, who is the seer for the Dwandwa Mutt of Shiroor Mutt, will perform the pooja to the idol. The idol is currently offered prayers at Sri Krishna Mutt.

Speaking to reporters, Palimaru Mutt seer Vidyadeesha Theertha said that the issue will be sorted out at the earliest once the Pejawar Mutt seer returns. The decision is yet to be taken. If the seers insist on appointing a junior, the decision will be conveyed to the Shiroor Mutt seer.

The Pejawar seer had convened a meeting and left for Bangaluru on a religious tour. The issue should also be sorted out before the beginning of Chathurmasya.

Earlier too

He added that this is not the first time that the Shiroor Mutt seer has handed over the presiding deity to the temple. During the last Ramanavami celebrations too, he had taken the idol to his original Mutt in Shiroor, the seer added.

The Shiroor Mutt seer has informed a section of reporters that he would raise the issue in the court. He said the other seers have no right to decide.