Fresh row erupts over Karnataka cave shrine

CHIKMAGALUR (KARNATAKA), DEC 23: The controversy over the Dattatreya Peeta, a cave shrine on Bababudangiri hills, is taking a new twist wi...

CHIKMAGALUR (KARNATAKA), DEC 23: The controversy over the Dattatreya Peeta, a cave shrine on Bababudangiri hills, is taking a new twist with the district administration suggesting takeover of its financial control and the Bajrang Dal claiming that the dargah never existed there.

Recently, a four-member panel headed by the Assistant Commissioner, had also suggested that the State Government should takeover the financial control of the shrine, venerated by both Hindus and Muslims for several decades. The recommendation had been forwarded to the State and the file is before the Endowment Commissioner.

Deputy Commissioner Manjunath confirmed that the report had been sent to the State Government but no decision has been taken as yet. The State could take over the financial control if it felt there was "gross misappropriation", he added. Official sources said that Syed Pir Mohammed Shakhadri, who passed away in October last, had ignored the two notices served on him by the committee seeking an explanation onthe use of funds. Left with no alternative, the committee made its own inquiries and arrived at some figure and then recommended for the takeover of the shrine’s functioning.

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Meanwhile, the Bajrang Dal is demanding daily prayers by Hindu priests and appointment of an administrator to manage the affairs of the shrine, now under the control of Syed Ghouse Mohiyuddin Shakhadri.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Vittal Rao, one of the agitation leaders, claimed that as per State Government records, the dargah existed at Nagenahalli Hobli and Urs was held every year. Citing palace records, he said the then Mysore king had visited Dattatreya Peetha and Bababudan Giri separately in 1931. Claiming that the Shakhadri family was installed by Hyder Ali, he said Budan Shakhadri, later called as Bababudan, was the adopted son of Ismail Shakhadri. He charged Shakhadri with enlarging the sacred cave without prior permission and misusing the funds.

Meanwhile, Syed Ghouse Mohiyuddin Shakhadri had represented to theState Government to appoint him as sajjada nasheen (administrator) of Baba Budan Dattatreya Peetha. He had already written to others to identify him as the sajjada and the process was likely to be completed by March.

The Peetha, about 30 km from here, located in one of the mountain peaks is a natural cave of laterite stone, where Dattatreya, the last avatar of Vishnu, is believed to have meditated and vanished.

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Inside the cave, there are two portions. On the right side is a seat where Dattatreya is believed to have prayed. Nearby, there is a pair of padukas (footwear) covered by a silver platter and lamps. In the sanctum, there is a platform believed to be the seats of four disciples of Dattatreya.