Udupi: Is the Madhwacharya – created Ashta Math system in temple town of Udupi, falling apart? As the Paryaya Peetha Changeover draws nearer and the incoming Paryaya throne ascender of Sode Mutt has made an entry into Udupi with all pomp and fanfare, there is a fresh controversy raging like fire in Puttige Math, where Sugunendra Tirtha Swamy, who h as been abroad in Western countries more than once in recent years, sulks in disregard, heaped on him by the Young (23) swami of the Sode Mutt who did not invite him to the main ceremony, nor to an honoured place among the other 6 monks during Pura-pravesha (entering the town) religious ceremonies.

The official invitation to Paryaya Festival issued by the Sode Swami, has omitted the name of Sugunendra, to the latter’s Consternation.

This is the second time that dirty linen is washed by Udupi monks in public.

In 2008, Puttige Math head, Sugunendra, went abroad against Madhwa tradition of old times, for preaching Dharma to his Hindu disciples there. Pejawar Swami intervened and restored Puttige Swami’s Paryaya authority then, and allowed Pujas by him from a distance to Lord Krishna.

Now in 2012, the non-inclusion of Puttige in the Paryaya Festival invitation itself, has invited a storm upon Sode Mutt followers, and the incoming Paryaya chief, from Local people in Udupi.

Harikrishna Punarooru, a hotelier and former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, as also a great devotee of the 8 maths of Udupi as a donor and in many other religious ways, has supported Sugunendra Thirtha of Puttige Math, in the dispute of Paryaya Festival invitation excluding Puttige, and has demanded to include Sugunendra in the Festival, as his exclusion had hurt the sentiments of several devotees.

He urged the Sode Math seer in a release on Tuesday(January 3) that Puttige seer should be invited to the Paryaya Durbar, and that whatever differences there are among 8 seers of Madhwacharya Math, should be resolved peacefully and immediately, without dishonouring the Puttige Math, should be resolved peacefully and immediately, without dishonouring the Puttige Math chief, Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji.