Karnataka: Controversial godman ties the knot

KALABURAGI: In an interesting development, a controversial godman from Haveri tied the nuptial knot with a Kerala girl doing her CA course at the famous Shanarana Basaveshwara Temple here on Monday. Besides the Peethadhipathi of Sharana Basaveshwara Samsthana, Dr Sharanabasappa Appa, Pramod Mutalik,  founder president of Sri Rama Sene, and a host of other religious heads were witness to the simple wedding ceremony conducted as per Hindu rites.

Shri Pranavananda Swamiji of Sharanabasaveshwara Mutt at Aremallapura in Haveri district, who also hails from Kerala, got married to Mira, also from Kerala, who of late had become his disciple. The controversial godman, who once unsuccessfully contested the Assembly poll and made a bid to take his life, faces charges in as many as 28 cases. He became the Swamiji of Sharanabasaveshwara Mutt after his ‘Lingadeeksha’ at Chitradurga.

Mira, who is doing her final year M.Com and CA course, is said to have come in contact with the Swamiji, when she attended some of his programmes. Later this relationship blossomed into a love-affair and finally, they decided to get married. After taking the blessings of the Peethadhipathi of SB Samsthan, a beaming swamiji told mediapersons that he decided to have the marriage at Sharana Basaveshwara Temple  as the present Peethadhipathi of the temple also has a family.

“I have decided to follow in the footsteps of the Peethadhipathi”, he said. To a query on what prompted him to enter wedlock, the Swamiji replied that the pressure from his mother and the persuasion of some elders was the reason. “My mother threatened to take her life which made me take this decision”, the Swamiji added.

Describing the ceremony as a “great event” in her life, the bride confessed that she had asked the Swamiji to give up his “sanyas” and make her his wife. The girl also revealed that she had taken the consent of her parents before entering wedlock. However, the parents of the girl were conspicuous by their absence.

Sri Rama Sene President Mr Pramod Mutalik feigned ignorance about whether it was a love marriage. “I don’t understand the nuances of ‘love-dove’. Anyway both have decided to become husband and wife and I bless them for that”, he added.