The YSRCP has deftly diffused a major crisis over the selection of the next chief of the Brahmam Gari Matham, a major religio-spiritual centre for the OBC communities in the two Telugu states. The issue, which threatened to snowball into a major controversy, was very efficiently managed.
The Matham chief Veerabhoga Vasantha Venkateshwara Swami, who died recently, had two wives. The two sons of the first wife â Venkatadri Swamy and Veerabhadra Swamy claimed to be the rightful heir to head the Mutt after Veerabhoga's demise. Veerabhoga Vasantha Venkateshwara Swamy's second wife wanted to be the officiating head of the Matham till her minor son became a major and then hand over the reins of the Matham to him. This became a big issue with devotees vertically getting divided. Some Swamis of nearby Mathams of other religious persuation too wanted to play mediators.
The government then moved in quickly and held discussions with all the three claimants. Local MLA Raghuram Reddy played a key role in convincing the three claimants to agree to Venkatadri swamy as the Matham pontiff, while his brother Veerabhadra Swamy would be his deputy. Second wife's son will get an opportunity to head the Matham after Veerabhadra Swamy.The deft handling by the YSRCP government is being praised by the followers of the Matham.
The Matham chief Veerabhoga Vasantha Venkateshwara Swami, who died recently, had two wives. The two sons of the first wife â Venkatadri Swamy and Veerabhadra Swamy claimed to be the rightful heir to head the Mutt after Veerabhoga's demise. Veerabhoga Vasantha Venkateshwara Swamy's second wife wanted to be the officiating head of the Matham till her minor son became a major and then hand over the reins of the Matham to him. This became a big issue with devotees vertically getting divided. Some Swamis of nearby Mathams of other religious persuation too wanted to play mediators.
The government then moved in quickly and held discussions with all the three claimants. Local MLA Raghuram Reddy played a key role in convincing the three claimants to agree to Venkatadri swamy as the Matham pontiff, while his brother Veerabhadra Swamy would be his deputy. Second wife's son will get an opportunity to head the Matham after Veerabhadra Swamy.The deft handling by the YSRCP government is being praised by the followers of the Matham.