Sirsi: Silence can mean many things to many people. Founder trustee of Sri Ramakrishna Kalika Mutt Ambagiri, Sirsi, Ambikananda Seer, is observing ‘Mouna Vratham’ (vow of silence) from June 4 to June 18th as a fall out of allegations and counter allegations, over the heir of the Mutt, but took time off from his vow of silence to speak to Newskarnataka.com about the controversy. 
In the twenty three minute conversation held between this scribe and the Seer, he urged the   media not to link the name of the Ramachandrapura Mutt to the Ambagiri Mutt, since Ambagiri Mutt, founded in the year 1963, has not been administered by the latter Mutt.

The Seer, presently ensconced at Hotel Samrat, room no. 102, also claimed that he has not leveled allegations against Raghaveshwara Bharati seer of Ramachandrapura Mutt in his letter dated May 31, 2015.

Ambikananda seer said he was not under stress from any persons and he is willing to appoint Raghaveshwara seer as the heir of the Ambagiri Mutt. He stressed that “still I have not appointed any successor and am patiently waiting from twelve years to handover the charge to Raghaveshwara seer.” He said he is under vow of silence now, but it is ok to talk in the morning hours.

The controversy arose from the fact that that the seventy-five-year old Ambikananda seer had written a letter (available with Newskarnataka.com) to the Tahsildar of Sirsi and Deputy Commissioner, Karwar requesting the government to take over the Mutt and appoint an administrative officer for the same.

On the other hand, there were allegations emanating from some sections of society in Sirsi that the Seer was abducted for brief time by the men of Raghaveshwara seer and forced to sign the agreement that would allow the Ramachandrapura Mutt to take full control of Ambagiri Mutt.

the Seer speaking to Newskarnataka.com made an effort to set the controversy at rest. He said that though he had written a letter asking the government to administer the Mutt, he is presently ready to sign legal papers, pertaining to handing over the charge to Raghaveshwara seer. He went on to claim that Raghaveshwara seer’s relationship with him is like father and son. “I am waiting for the seer to complete legal procedures of becoming the heir of the Mutt as I am aging”.

He pointed out that the media had reported that the  Ambagiri Mutt was taken over by Ramachandrapura Mutt in the year 2003 but it is not true. “I decided to handover the charge to Raghaveshwara seer in 2003 but due legal procedures were not followed by the seer and it went into cold storage”.