The Hindu : Karnataka News : Seer regrets decline of Shaivite tradition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Seer regrets decline of Shaivite tradition

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, FEB. 28. The State Government should set up a high-powered commission to bring out the historical truth behind the Chandramouleshwara, Ananteshwara and Krishna temples in Udupi. The commission should also place in the right perspective the importance of Shaivite and Vaishnavite traditions in the region.

Making these demands at a press conference here on Monday, the seer of Nidumamidi Mutt, Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamiji, said historically speaking Shaivite tradition had a great influence in the region, and the presence of Chandramouleshwara and Ananteshwara temples is evidence to that.

Noting that Vaishnavite priests are offering puja at these temples, he said this has resulted in a situation where the Shaivite tradition is gradually disappearing. Stating that the temples were major centres of Shaivite pilgrimage in the past, the seer said efforts must be made to restore the glory of the temples and give precedence to Shaivite traditions.

Historical lacunae

Asserting that Government and society have an important role to play in rectifying historical lacunae that have crept in vis-a-vis the above traditions, he regretted that the Ashta Mutts of Udupi have adopted a policy of encroachment in their quest to promote Vaishnavite tradition through the Krishna Temple.

Asserting that the "Kanakana kindi" was not a result of a miracle as is widely believed, he said that such "kindis" are common in most temples across India.

"The priestly class was against permitting shudras into temples for worship. Instead, they constructed a `kindi' through which these devotees could have darshan of the lord," he asserted.

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