Udupi: Mired in controversies, finding new seer for Shiroor Matha not so easy
Udupi: Selecting a new Peetadhipati for the controversy-ridden Shiroor Matha may not be an easy task as the new seer will have to face several challenges after coming to power.
Families may think twice before making their member a seer of a matha which is financially not strong and has a strained relationship with other six maths.
The search for the new Peetadhipathi has already started after the death of Sri Lakshmivara Teertha. As he died without appointing a junior, the onus is on Sode Matha to select the new Peetadhipati. Sources acquainted with the developments in Udupi say that selection of the new seer may not be an easy task as he will have to face several challenges.
“The first major challenge is to set right the finances of the matha. The land which the matha owned near Udupi has been given on long term lease and the income from this has been spent on various things. Also it is said that the seer had taken some loans for a building. There are rumours that some people had to clear huge dues to the seer. Considering all these, the financial status of the matha is not good,” sources said. There is no other major income source to the matha and the swamiji will have to work on a method to pool funds for the institution.
The other challenge is to solve the strained relationship with all other mathas. The relationship with the other six mathas had deteriorated in recent years. So the new swamiji will have to make a fresh beginning with all the seers.
Improving the financial condition of the matha and the relatioship with other mathas could be easy if there is a strong team to help the new Peetadhipati.
This can be easy only if the new seer is from a family which has a close association with the matha and its traditions. “The new swamiji has to do these at the earliest as the two-year Paryaya term of Shiroor Matha will begin from 2026. Within seven years, the new seer should learn all the traditions of the matha, complete his learning and also improve the condition of the institution. It is really a big task. Thus families may think twice before making their family member a Peetadhipati," sources added.
