Kashi Math Row: Sudhindra Thirtha Swami accepts all deities
Mangalore Today News Network
Report by Mahesh Nayak - Photographs by Manju Neereshwallya
Mangalore, Dec. 1, 2011: In a much awaited development, Sri Sudhindra Thirtha Swami, the Senior Pontiff and Matadhipathi Sri Kashi Math Samsthan today accepted all 28 sacred idols confiscated by the Andhra Pradesh Police from his former disciple turned rebel Sri Raghavendra Thirtha at an emotionally charged function held at Dahisar Sri Kashi Math, Mumbai.
The idols, covered in a deep maroon cloth, were presented to the swami by a group of devotees led by G.G. Prabhu, his Power-Of-Attorney holder who had secured the release of the idols by court order at Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. These included the idol of Vyas Raghupathi, the iconic patron deity of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan and the chief symbol of the Math’s identity.
After the idols were released from government custody at Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh yesterday, they were transported to Mumbai via Bangalore. On reaching the Maharashtra state capital, they were taken out in a grand procession to the Dahisar shrine of the Sri Kashi Math, where the senior swami is presently camping. The devotees then placed the idols before the swami who was accompanied by his present disciple and ‘Patta Shisya’ (successor in waiting) Sri Samyamindra Thirtha Swami.
On receiving the idols, the swami offered salutations to the deity and is said to have exclaimed in joy, “Oh, Veda Vyasa you have come”. “Please protect our community. Forgive their wrongs and bless them with welfare,” he is reported to have implored with the deity.
Later in the evening, the swami placed the placed the idols on a specially carved throne gifted by his devotees of Bangalore and performed pooja. It was indeed a historic occasion for his millions of devotees belonging to the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community to see their revered swami performing pooja on the holy idol of Vyas Raghupathi after a gap of over one decade. It is part of the swami’s duties to perform ‘Trikala Pooja’ (pooja thrice a day) of this idol and he had been denied this privilege after the controversy erupted and his disowned disciple was left in possession of the idol and other important religious paraphernalia. The idols are now kept for public viewing at the Dahisar Sri Kashi Math for one day.
The Kashi Math Controversy seems to have reached its finale with this ultimate act of restoration of the holy idols, which completes the devotees’ connection with the Math. As Raghavendra Thirtha has already exhausted all his legal options, it is expected that this controversy will die a natural death in the days to come. Having no further stakes to claim in the case, the former disciple might be left with little choice but to forget the past and create a new future for himself.
The GSB community went euphoric with this event and there have been festive celebrations all around.
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