The Moorsavirmath is not unused to `overthrowing' a swamiji. Similar trouble had occurred during the pattabhisheka of Gangadharaswamiji, who has just been replaced.

Trouble had been brewing in the math from last May, when the uttaradhikari, Rudramuniswamy was divested of his post through an advertisement by Gangadharaswamiji on grounds of misuse of funds, power and forgery.

This was then challenged by Rudramuniswamy who sat in the math along with his followers and refused to budge. After a tense week of negotiations, Gangadharaswamiji was forced to compromise. An agreement was reached to the effect that Rudramuniswamy would be the next head of the math.

However, Gangadharaswamiji took the matter up again on Monday last and tried to get things changed in the Registrar of Societies in Dharwad. According to mathsources, he was in the office for more than two hours, though it is not known whether Rudramuniswamy's posting was revoked. Information reached the disciples of Rudramuniswamy on Tuesday and they tried to contact the senior swamiji, who went out of station. He did not respond to any of their calls. A meeting was called on Saturday to decide what was to be done. The decision was taken to perform the pattabhishekha. ``Everybody was in a very militant mood. I was given the choice of either presiding over the procedures or being against them,'' said Patil Puttappa, a local leader and journalist.

While mediators like Basavaraj Bommai, a local legislator and son of former Karnataka chief minister S R Bommai, are visiting both camps to bring about a solution, there is a clear division in the community. Ashok Katwe and Jagadeesh Shettar, Bharatiya Janata Party's legislators from the city and rural constituencies, are ensconced in the Gangadharaswamiji camp. S S Shettar, former corporator, is also one of hissupporters.

In the Rudramuniswamy camp are several dignitaries, if their visits to the math on Sunday are any indication. Mayor Vijayanand of Hoskote, Hubli/Dharwad Urban Development Authority Chairman Balu Magajikondi and several hundred people are streaming into the math to get a darshan.Prakash Ullagaddimath, who has been a staunch supporter of Rudramuniswamy, said that he did not foresee any legal hassles.

The math controls a large number of educational institutions and also has a shopping complex. The properties of the math run into crores of rupees.The math is a shishya-varga #institution, according to the PTR Act of the Registration of Societies and the math head is elected or installed by the disciples. There is no question of handing over charge. Notices have already been issued to the Registrar's office, to banks and education institutions of the math and all other maths which come under the jurisdiction of this math.