Thousands throng Ajjarkad stadium to pay last respects to saint

Udupi:

People

from all walks of life, cutting across religious lines, queued up at

Mahatma Gandhi district stadium

at

Ajjarkad

to pay their

last respects

to

Vishwesha Teertha Swami

of Sri Pejawar Adhokshaja Mutt.

The mortal remains of the seer were brought to the stadium in a decorated open jeep at 12.15pm. The district administration and the city police had made elaborate preparations so people can pay their respects. IGP Western Range J Arun Chakravathy and SP Nisha James monitored the security arrangements.

As soon as the mortal remains were brought, state honours and the guard of honour was offered by District Armed Reserve. The tricolour was placed on the seer whose mortal remains were inside the traditional bamboo basket in padmasana posture. Students kept chanting mantras with Haridas Bhat, principal of Poornaprajna Vidya Peetha, leading the prayers.

Chief minister B S Yediyurappa, home minister Basavaraj Bommai, Dakshina Kannada district minister Kota Srinivas Pujary, MPs Nalin Kumar Kateel, Shobha Karandlaje, MLAs Sunil Kumar, Sukumar Shetty, Harish Poonja, former minister Pramod Madhwaraj and veteran A G Kodgi were among others present. Udupi diocese bishop Gerald Issac Lobo paid his last respects, and so did several Muslims.

Several policemen and district officers also paid their last respects.

Prof Udyavara Madhav Achar remembered the seer as being most accessible. Recollecting an incident, he said: “When he got to know that an artist was looking for food late in the night, the seer came out of the mutt and arranged the same,” he said.

A group of women wished that the seer was alive to see the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “He played an important role in the Ayodhya movement, and was happy when the verdict was announced. The seer played a key role in strengthening Hindu organisations. He was one of the most-influential leaders. It was because of him that several national leaders visited Udupi and this temple town got national recognition,” said Geetha, a homemaker.

After a conch was blown at 1.28pm, the mortal remains of the seer left the stadium in an ambulance. From Adi Udupi helipad, the mortal remains were airlifted in an IAF chopper at 1.56pm, with MP Shobha Karandlaje and MLA Raghupathy Bhat on board.