Is there a better way?

Outlook India, December 2, 2004

VARANASI - The Dwarikapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand today asked the beleaguered Kanchi Kamakoti Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswatito step down from his post until proved innocent by the court of law in an alleged murder case.

"The seer must step down from the post of Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakotipeeth until he is absolved by the court of the charges against him in the Shankaramanmurder case," he told reporters here.

"If a public representative or a minister was required to quit his post

for alleged complicity in a criminal or murder case, then why not Shankaracharya also quit his post," he asked.

Stepping up his attack on the incarcerated spritual leader, Swaroopanand also questioned the former's credentials as Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakotipeeth and said that how could he claim to be a Shankaracharya when the Kanchi KamakotiPeeth was not annointed as one of the four peeths of the Hindu religion.

The adi Shankaracharya's had founded only four peeths, Puri, Dwarka, Shrinegeri and Badrika Ashram Peeth and there was no Peeth of Kanchi Kamkoti in the originalorder, he said adding Swami Jayendra was a mere priest of a mutt.

Full story:

http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=265090

Dwarikapeeth Shankaracharya asks Kanchi Seer to step down

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/002200412022071.htm