... But the followers of the Sringeri mutt had brought out a pamphlet (monograph?) during the 1970's claiming that it was the true account. ....
Dear Sangom sir, among SVs also, it is this kind of identity related issues that animate them, pitting members of one Matham against that of another.
Questions like who came first, who is legit, who follows tradition correctly, come up as a routine. Many pamphlets deriding the practices of others have been released, eagerly read by a small group of vociferous guardians of tradition -- i.e. their version of tradition.
For example, in Sri Rangam, every time there is a purappaadu for Swami Sri Desikan (SSD), there will be huge crowd of Thenkalais at the Sannithi, not because they are moved into a bhakti frenzy for SSD, but because they want to ensure that the court order they obtained prohibiting SSD with a Vadakali namam on his forehead from coming outside the precincts of the sannithi, is adhered to. The moment SSD goes back into the sanctum, the crowd will dissipate faster than a NY cabbie honking, after a traffic light turns green.
There are many such instances of open pettiness from both sides. For all the claims of broadmindedness of Sanatana Dharmees, all I see now is a whole lot of dirty bathwater worshiped, but the baby, if ever there was one, is long gone, perhaps got up and left out of disgust.
Cheers!
