Bangalore:
Pejawar Mutt pontiff Vishweshwa Teertha Swami today said he never justified the 'inhuman practice' of the Made Snana ritual and urged Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to bring in a law against it.
Made Snana is an age-old ritual at Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada, where people with skin and other diseases roll on banana leaves on leftovers of food eaten by Brahmins.
Seers of various mutts had yesterday criticised the seer, Higher Education Minister V S Acharya and Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade for their reported 'dual stand' on the controversial issue.
"I have never justified this practice. In fact I met Sadananda Gowda and asked him to bring in a law against it. I will do everything to stop this," he said in a special discussion organised by Nidumamidi Mahasamsthana Mutt and Manavadharma Peeta over the issue her.
The seer claimed he was misquoted and believed in putting an end to the practice through public discussions. "I believe in involving everyone in discussions to convince them to refrain from the practice. All ill practices that exist are part of a larger caste system," he said.
Countering Veerabhadra Chenamalla Swami's comments that he would choose the Indian constitution over religion, he said he was not ready to compromise on religion.
"In case of a conflict, I will act in a manner that upholds the ideals prescribed in the constitution and without disrespecting religion," he said.
The Pejawar seer said Brahmins did not start Made Snana, which is a term coined only recently and pointed out that even Brahmins participated in this ritual.