Ready to mediate on Veerashaiva, Lingayat issue: Pejawar Swamiji

UDUPI: Vishvesha Thirtha swamiji of Pejawar Mutt on Friday said that he is ready to have a discussion on the issue of Veerashaivas and Lingayats, for strengthening the Hindu religion. “If a separate religion is formed, the Hindu religion will become weak. “Hence, everyone should stand together to strengthen Hinduism. Whoever is praying to God Shiva is a Hindu. If all people who worship Shiva, claim to be non-Hindus, then who are Hindus?” he questioned.The Pejawar swamiji, about why he interfered in this issue at Harihar, said, “It’s not a matter to be discussed through media. Let’s sit and discuss the issue in peace. I believe that though Veerashaivas and Lingayats have different traditions, they both are Hindus. When a joint family is about to split, it is the responsibility of seers to ensure that they stay together. From 1956, I established relations between Brahmins and Lingayats by visiting them frequently, and have continued the relationship till now.” Regarding the appointment of a new seer at Shiroor Mutt, the seer said, “The mutt has tax liabilities, and until they are cleared, no one is ready to take charge. It has become a challenge to appoint a seer at the mutt, but the Sode seer is working on it”.