Mysore/Mysuru: The indefinite campaign launched by several Veerashaiva-Lingayat Associations last week urging the Government to save Niranjana Mutt located on Krishna Vilas Road  in city, in its original form, continued for the fifth day today.

Meanwhile, Sri Ramakrishna (RK) Ashram, Mysuru, has said that it is committed for conservation of Niranjana Mutt and the Ashram had no intention of relocating the idol of Dakshinamurthy.

In a press release, M. Doreraju, a devotee of the Ashram and a retired Engineer of Archaeology and Heritage Department, said that Dakshinamurthy idol was located in an open space and a Veerashaiva community leader had suggested construction of a Mantapa for the idol, so that pujas can be performed under the Mantapa, instead of in the open. Also, the base of Dakshinamurthy idol was facing instability as the root of a huge tree nearby was growing fast. Besides, the idol has leaned towards a side as its foundation that was partially disturbed by the growth of tree roots. A Mutt devotee came forward to construct a Mantap for the idol by repairing the backside of the temple, Doreraju said.

Himself being a retired engineer from the Archaeology Department, he went to Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, where he met a sculptor and asked him to construct a Mantap. As such, the Dakshinamurthy idol was just shifted by some distance in order to build a strong foundation for the idol at its original space. But Veerashiava community leaders have wrongly understood this and have launched a protest against RK Ashram, without bothering to hear our explanation and clarification, he said.

Reiterating that RK Ashram is totally committed for conserving Niranjana Mutt in its original form and also to undertake its renovation, Doreraju said that RK Ashram and Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mutts were like brothers serving the society and working for the welfare of everyone. When such is the case, it is unfortunate that Veerashaiva community leaders were making unfair and unfounded allegations that the Ashram was out to destroy the heritage nature and characteristics of Niranjana Mutt, Doreraju said in the press release.