BANGALORE, INDIA, January 18, 2008: A Hindu monk who ignored a taboo against travelling abroad was anointed on Friday as the head priest of a popular temple in the pilgrim town of Udipi in Karnataka, despite opposition by conservative religious leaders. Sugunendra Teertha had travelled to the United States and Europe to promote Hinduism.
This upset some orthodox Brahmins in Udipi who believe that travelling overseas defiles a Brahmin’s purity. They wanted him barred from priesthood. But their argument left a local court unconvinced and Teertha was anointed in a ceremony attended by thousands of devotees at a temple dedicated to Krishna.
“It is Lord Krishna’s wish,” Teertha said after taking control of the temple.