Pejawar Math head dead

Udupi (Karnataka), Dec 29

Pejawar Math head Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, one of the prominent religious leaders of South India, died here on Sunday after a brief illness, math sources said.

The 88-year old swamij, a prominent face of the VHP’s Ramjanmabhoomi movement, breathed his last on the premises of the Pejawar math in this holy town, they said.

The Karnataka Government announced a three-day state mourning. The last rites of the seer will be performed at the Vidyapeetha in Bengaluru, founded by him, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said.

Vishwesha Theertha, the most senior pontiff of the Ashta (eight) maths here established by Dvaita philosopher Sri Madhwacharya 800 years ago, was admitted to KMC Hospital in nearby Manipal with respiratory problems on December 19. On Saturday night, he suffered multi-organ failure following which he was shifted to the Pejwar Math here as per his wish expressed earlier, the sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of the seer, who was the 33rd swamiji in the lineage of the Pejawar Math heads. “Udupi will remain in the hearts and minds of lakhs of people for whom he was always a guiding light. A powerhouse of service and spirituality, he continuously worked for a more just and compassionate society. Om Shanti,” Modi tweeted. — PTI