Dispute arises over administration of Koppal Raghavendra Swami math, Mantralaya seer returns

KOPPAL: A controversy has arisen over the administration of the Raghavendra Swami Math here after differences of opinion between a section of devotees and the head of the Mantralaya Raghavendra Swami Math, Sri Subhudendra Teertha Swami. The math at Koppal had been administered by locals so far.

Following the controversy, Subhudendra Teertha Swami, who had arrived here on Wednesday, returned without entering the math on Thursday morning, expressing his displeasure. On Thursday, the police erected barricades outside the math on Gadag road and adequate personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

Several programmes were organised on March 26 and 27 at the Koppal Raghavendra Swami Math and Subhudendra Teertha Swami was invited for the event. The seer even gave a discourse and met devotees. Later, a discussion started on the administration of the math.

Previously, Huligi Ranganath Achar was the president of the math, but after his passing away, there were discussions about the math administration. In 1971, the Koppal math was handed over to the Mantralaya math. Subhudendra Teertha Swami even claimed that there are documents related to the handover and said he will decide on who will administer the Koppal math.

A large section of devotees had gathered at the house where the seer was staying overnight.

However, this was opposed by a section of the devotees and many of them went to the house at Basava Nagar, where the seer was staying overnight, and held discussions.

Later, they said the Koppal math does not belong to any other math and was independent with locals managing its affairs. Following the controversy, Ram puja, tula bhara and others were cancelled abruptly. Jagannath Hungund, the manager of the math said, “We had requested the seer to conduct puja, but he got upset and returned. We will sort out the internal affairs, but the math belongs to locals and we will make an appeal”, he said.