Source

UDUPI, KARNATAKA, September 25, 2004: When former Minister, H. Vishwanath, made a statement that the government should not hand over the temple to the maths (monasteries), Vishwesha Tirtha of Pejawar Math immediately replied to the statement. Swamiji told The Hindu that the Sri Krishna temple already belonged to the ashta maths (eight maths) and not the Endowment Department. Furthermore, even if the government appointed an administrative officer to help with the temple, swamiji said the appointment would be rejected by all the swamijis of the ashta maths. The article also goes on to explain that the various maths are in controversy with each other and the Kuruba community over the demolition of a gopuram (temple entry tower). Lakshmivara Tirtha says, “I used to get up early in the morning and do a namaskara to the earlier gopuram, which had images of deities from krita, dwapara and treta yugas (earlier ages in the Hindu calendar). The demolished gopuram was constructed in 1910-12, but the stone mantapa (shrine) below the gopuram (which was also demolished) was constructed in 1510-12 during the Vijayanagar rule. A replica of the stone mantapa was found in Hampi.” Vishwapriya Tirtha of Paryaya Admar Math adds, “The stone mantapa was less than 100 years old and not 500 years old. The math had taken permission from the Udupi municipality for the construction of a new gopuram. The new Kanaka Gopuram and the mantapa would be built out of brick.”

Post Views: 667