CANACONA
His Holiness Vidhyadiraj Teerth Swamiji (77), the 23rd religious head in the pontifical lineage of Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagalli Jevottam Math died of a cardiac arrest at the Partagal temple on Monday morning.
Political leaders and people from different walks of life have mourned the demise of the Partagal Swami, who had a large number of followers within and beyond the State.
According to reports, Vidhyadiraj Swami was the 23rd religious head in the pontifical lineage during the 550-year history of the Math, which was reportedly formed in the Himalayas at Badrikashram in 1475 AD.
Vidhyadiraj Swami had taken sanyas on February 26, 1967 at the Shri Ram Mandir in Wadala-Mumbai and later ascended to Gurupeetha (at Partagalli Math) on April 5, 1973.
He is known to have tirelessly worked for the spiritual upliftment of the followers and managed the Math properties.
According to sources, the Saraswat Samaj pontiff reportedly suffered a heart attack at about 11.30 am on Monday.
“After his customary nirmalya pooja, the Partagal Swami went and sat on his seat with a book in his hand. When the junior pontiff ‘Sheesya’, the successor to the Swamiji who was inducted on February 9, 2017 and lives on the upper floor, came to meet his Guru (Swamiji), he was reportedly dead in a seated position.
News of his demise quickly spread across the State and Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat, Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, Partagalli Jivottam Math President Shrinivas Dempo, Bhaie Naik and others paid condolence visits at the Partagalli Math.
The Math secretary Anil Pai informed reporters that due to Covid restrictions, the final rites with appropriate Covid protocols will be completed before midnight itself.
“There is a long line of devotees, but as was the wish of the Swamiji to strictly follow Covid SOPs, which he had expressed for the upcoming Chaturmaas, the rituals for the final rites have already begun and will be completed before midnight tonight,” said Pai.
Pai said the 23rd Swamiji had served the Math for nearly 50 years in the Math's 550-year history and was responsible for building 11 of the 33 new Maths and several hostels in various parts of the country.
Udhay Bhat, a mechanical engineer who was inducted as a disciple (Sheesya) in 2017 will be now known as Vidhyadist, the 24th Swamiji of Jivottam Partagalli Math.
