Devotees lock mutt amid row with seer in Kalaburagi village

Kalaburagi: Devotees of Sri Shankaralingeshwar Sansthan Hiremath in Udchan village of Afzalpur taluk locked the mutt after a long-standing dispute with presiding seer Sri Shantalinga Shivacharya escalated.Villagers, expressing displeasure over the seer’s actions, had for several months demanded the appointment of a new head.It is alleged that the seer left the mutt citing ill health after the management board issued him a notice to attend a meeting.At the meeting, devotees voiced anger, sought a change in the management, and called for the mutt to be locked. Subsequently, the management board locked the premises.Speaking to TOI, Afzalpur MLA MY Patil said that in earlier times mutts served as centres of justice and education.

He said former seers Sri Shankaralinga Maharaja and Sri Chandrasekhara Maharaja had developed the mutt and its educational institutions through dedicated efforts.He said there were allegations that some actions of the present head had affected the mutt’s reputation. He added that necessary steps would be taken to ensure smooth functioning of both the mutt and its educational institutions.Former minister and ex-MLA Malikayya Guttedar told TOI that the seer should take villagers and devotees into confidence.

He termed it unfortunate that a conflict situation had arisen after villagers raised questions over the administration.He stressed the need for forming a new management board for the development of the mutt and proper administration of educational institutions.It may be recalled that the seer was jailed after allegedly firing a gun in the air in Dec 2025. He was also involved in a drink-and-drive case in Vijayapura district and was beaten by the public, devotees alleged.