Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Teertha Swami passes away at 88

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who shared close relations with the seer, said, “I consider myself blessed to have got many opportunities to learn from Sri Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji. Our recent meeting, on the pious day of Guru Purnima was also a memorable one. His impeccable knowledge always stood out. My thoughts are with his countless followers.”

Swami’s mortal remains will be kept at Ajjara Kaadu in Udupi for the public to pay their tributes at 10 am following which it will be airlifted to Bengaluru at 1 pm where the body will be kept at National College grounds.

According to MLA Raghupathi Bhat, the mortal remains will be interred in Brindavana, at the premises of Vidya Peetha in Bengaluru, as per the seer’s last wish.

Former union minister Uma Bharti, who is a disciple of the seer, arrived at the Mutt to pay her respects.

Vishwesha Teertha Swami with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Photo)

On Saturday, doctors said his condition has deteriorated and is in critical condition. Mutt officials and the junior pontiff Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji said they have decided to shift the seer from the hospital to the mutt on Sunday as per his wish, and the treatment would continue there.

Doctors had earlier said the pontiff was being treated for extensive pneumonia.

With the seer’s condition critical, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was touring the coastal region, rushed to the hospital.

An influential public figure, the Pejawar seer had also led the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

Announcing three days of mourning in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said, “The country and the state has lost a great soul. He consecrated the Ram Mandir and wanted to see Ram Mandir getting built in Ayodhya. The Supreme Court had also decided that the temple is to be built but he, unfortunately, will not be able to see its construction.”

“His contribution to the upliftment of Hindu dharma is immortal. It is saddening that he did not live to witness the construction of Ramamandir in Ayodhya,” the chief minister added.

Swami was the head of Sri Pejavara Adokshaja Matha, one of the Ashta Mathas belonging to the Dvaita school of philosophy, founded by Sri Madhvacharya in Udupi. Besides the prime minister, he also shared good relations with several top BJP leaders.

with PTI inputs