Will quit if charges proved: Seer Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji
The Pejawar swamiji also clarified on his statement against Lakshmivara Teertha after the latter's death.
Udupi: Taking serious exception to the personal allegations made against him recently, Pejawar Adhokshaja Matha seer Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji has declared that he will quit the peetha if the allegations against him are proved.
In a press statement, the pontiff referred to the audio which was said to be of the late Sri Lakshmivara Teertha of Shiroor Matha and somebody close to him. The audio makes personal attacks on the Pejawar seer and also some other swamijis.
"An audio released by the aides of Lakshmivara Teertha alleges that during my youth, I had a relationship with a woman and had a daughter named Padma in Tamil Nadu. This is completely false and baseless. A letter, said to have been written by the Shiroor seer in December, said it was a male child. These contradictory statements themselves prove that they are imaginary. I know nobody in our country would believe this. I am ready for any investigation and test in connection with this. If they are proved I will immediately quit the Peetha," the Swamiji declared.
The Pejawar swamiji also clarified on his statement against Lakshmivara Teertha after the latter's death.
"Mediapersons asked me the reason for not returning the 'Pattada Devaru,' (presiding deity) to Shiroor Swamiji and also the reason for not attending his last rites. As a reply I had to explain that the seer had violated the Sanyasa Dharma and also had to narrate all details," he said.
"I had no role in Raghuvallabha of Palimar Matha, Manojnya Theerta of Shiroor and Vidhyabhushana of Subrahmanya Matha quitting their mathas. It is wrong to hurl allegations against me. They left on their own and I had tried my best to stop them from quitting the mathas," he said.
"It is also a false allegation that I had paid Rs 5 lakh to Raghu Vallabha Teertha to quit his matha (Palimaru Math). I have not paid a single paisa. Even Vishwa Vijaya (earlier Junior Pontiff of Pejawar Matha) quit without telling me. I had not asked for any money from Shiroor Swamiji," he clarified.