They differ on religious practices during holy dip
Swamy Paripoornanda Saraswathi
Kakinada: Swamy Paripoornanda Saraswathi, seer of the Sree Peetham in Kakinada, felt the tradition of taking some mud from the river bank and throwing it into the river after chanting the prescribed mantra before Pushkara snanam, is inappropriate in the present context.
He also objected to throwing turmeric and kumkum into the river as it would cause pollution and harm living organisms in the water. He pegged the practice as superstitious. Famous spiritual leader Abhinava Vivekan-anda Chaganti Koteswara Rao, Pranavi Peetham chief Vaddiparthi Padmakar, eminent astrologer Upadrashta Krishna Murthy and others point out in their spiritual discourses that dropping a little mud in the Godavari before taking the holy dip would help cast away demons and help them earn auspicious merits.
However, Swamy Paripoornanada Saraswathi said, “There is no need for devotees to perform such ritual such as dropping mud, turmeric, Kumkum and others. In ancient days, there were no proper bunds and roads at the rivers. Then the people were advised to get mud and throw it at the bund for its strengthening.”
But, now, we are living in a modern world by utilising technology and there is no need for such old practices during taking holy dips in rivers.” He also said that he was getting ready for participating in debates to convince the spiritual leaders of the same.
Pranavi Peetham chief Vaddiparthi Padmakar contradicted this by citing the Sashtras, which say dropping a little bit of mud is an auspicious practice. He added that turmeric is not harmful and is actually an antibiotic. He also averred that those pegging the practice as superstitious are themselves victims of superstitions.
Siddhanthi Upadrastha Krishna Murthy, head of the Hariharipura Adi Sankaracharya Sarada Lakshmi Nrusimha Peetha said that the pilgrims should not seriously consider Sree Peetham seer's comments and must follow tradition.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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