Vishvesha Teertha Swami, the head of prominent Pejavara Mutt of Udupi, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday. The octogenarian pontiff was being treated for extensive pneumonia with antibiotics and supportive treatment. He was critical and connected to a ventilator at the hospital. The Pejavara mutt is one among the ‘”Ashta’ Mutts of Udupi in Karnataka. He was the 33rd Swamiji in the lineage of the Pejawar Math heads.
On Sunday morning, the seer was shifted from the Hospital to the Pejawar mutt. Mutt authorities said arrangements are being made at the for devotees to pay their last respects at the Ajjarkad Grounds from 10 am to 1 pm. Following that his mortal remains will be flown by helicopter to Bengaluru where devotees can pay their last respects to him at the National College Ground.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to pay his last respects and tweeted,
Shri Vishvesha Theertha Swami was born in 1931 at Ramakunja in Puttur and was named Venkatrama by his parents Narayanacharya and Kamalamma. He was ordained into sannyasa at the age of 8 in 1938. The seer was an influential public figure and had been closely associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and Gau Raksha movements in the past. He was also being considered as a candidate to oversee the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust and monitor the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
He was also a known philanthropist and had established The Sri Krishna Sevashrama in Bengaluru and Sri Krishna Chikitsaalaya in Udupi, hospitals which provide free treatment to the poor.
Vishwesha Theertha has been outspoken and a controversial figure in Karnataka. He had earned praise when he organized Iftar parties and took part in them. He stood for equal treatment of all castes and religions. Vishvesha Teertha Swami was the only seer to have ascended the ‘Paryaya Peetha’ five times.
May His Soul Rest In Peace.
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