Pejawar seer in ICU after surgery; Muslims offer prayers for his health

Udupi, Aug 21: Vishwesha Tirtha Swami, the pontiff of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit after a successful surgical procedure for hernia at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a group of Muslims offered prayers at the entrance of Kasturba Hospital seeking good health for the seer.

Raghuram Acharya, Dewan of Pejawar Mutt, said that the 87-year-old Vishwesha Tirtha completed the Maha Puja at the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple in the morning. Afterwards, he left for the Kasturba Hospital.

He was taken to the Operation Theatre at the hospital at11.30 a.m. After the operation, he was shifted to the ICU at around 1 p.m.

“The doctors who operated upon the seer told us that the latter had cooperated well. The seer would be shifted to a special room in the hospital on Monday morning. The doctors said that they would decide on when to discharge the seer from the hospital after 11 a.m. on Monday,” he said.

“The seer spoke to us. He is in good spirits. He expressed happiness over the services rendered by the doctors at the hospital,” he added.

Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swami, junior seer of Pejawar Mutt, met and spoke to Vishwesha Tirtha at the hospital in the evening. In the absence of the senior seer, Vishwaprasanna Tirtha is performing the “pujas” at the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple.

Tradition bars the Paryaya seer from leaving the Car Street during his two-year tenure, when he occupies the Paryaya Peetha, also called the Sarvajna Peetha, at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple. Even when the Paryaya seer suffers from minor health ailments, doctors meet him and treat him. However, in the present case, the matter involved a surgical procedure.

“Usually, the Paryaya seer does not leave the Car Street. But this is a special case. Hence, the opinion of the other seers of the Ashta Mutts (or eight mutts) available was taken and they agreed that the Pejawar seer should go to the hospital for the surgical treatment,” Mr. Acharya further said.

In the morning, a Dhanvantri Homa was performed and a group of disciples under the guidance of Vishwaprasanna Tirtha chanted mantras at the Rajangana Hall here praying for the good health of Vishwesha Tirtha.