The ongoing cold war between the new seer, Subhudendra Theertha Swamiji, and his personal secretary, Suyameendracharya, is worrying lakhs of devotees of Mantralaya Raghavendraswami Mutt.
Some recent decisions of the swamiji in administrative matters seem to have disappointed Suymeendracharya. Ten days ago, he objected to certain unilateral decisions, handed over his official vehicle and went back to Bangalore in a government bus. Sources said he wanted to keep away from administrative matters at least till the Kalakarshana a traditional process of re-invoking Lord Vishnu from an idol to another one such as a wooden icon or a Kalasha of the brindavan of his father Suyatheendra Theertha Swamiji, who died recently.
Sources said the new seer has streamlined the expenditure of the mutt.
He is taking a keen interest in all the branches spread over other states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and also at New Delhi. He is getting information on the accounts of every branch, including the Mantralayam Mutt.
It may be recalled that Rajagopalacharya had served as the personal secretary to the seer during the tenure of Suyatheendra and Sushameendra Theertha.
Though he continued in the same post during the tenure of Suyatheendra Theertha, his powers were curtailed when Suyameendracharya, the seer’s son, was made additional personal secretary and all powers were given to him.
Recently Suyatheendra Theertha died after naming Subhudhendra Theertha as his successor.
It was known that Subhudhendra did not have good terms with Suyameendracharya. Nevertheless, the new seer appointed Suyameendracharya as his personal secretary and Rajagopalacharya as his personal assistant.
However, the new seer’s initiatives on financial matters annoyed Suyameendracharya, the sources said.
One of the main reasons for the cold war seems to be the decisions taken by the seer’s father Giriyachar. An elderly scholar and orthodox by nature, Giriyachar wants to bring back the glory of the mutt.
He wanted to run it as a religious organisation and not as a commercial one. Hence, he wanted to stop lakhs of rupees being spent in advertisements in the media, sources said.
Suyameendracharya’s role in rebuilding Mantralaya after the flood havoc in 2009 was acknowledged by all in the mutt and even outside. His administrative skill brought back the glory of Mantralaya.
Sources in the mutt describe the cold war as a conflict between modernity and orthodoxy. A coordination between the two could bring in a new era for the mutt, they said.