Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji is the pontiff of the Pejawar Mutt, a Hindu monastery, in Udupi, Karnataka. He is known for making controversial and casteist statements about the Constitution of India, minorities and cow slaughter.

In March 2022, Muslim and Christian leaders appealed to Vishwaprasanna not to impose a ban on Muslim and Christian vendors inside temple premises during Hindu religious festivals and fairs, a result of petitions from right-wing organizations pushing for their economic boycott. 

“The Hindu society has suffered a lot in the past. People are extremely hurt due to some unpleasant events. The problem will not be solved if a few religious leaders speak against it. It should come from within the society,” Vishwaprasanna responded, adding that “Injustice leads to anger and if it goes to the extreme level then it explodes. This is what we are witnessing in our society today.” 

In September 2022, Vishwaprasanna released a video statement welcoming the ban on Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates, a political Muslim organization that was accused of alleged terrorist activities. Vishwaprasanna said the ban was a lesson for those indulging in acts of destruction and fomenting hatred, adding that anti-national activities should be nipped in the bud and political parties should not support such outfits.

In August 2023, Sri Ram Sena national president Pramod Muthalik wrote to Vishwaprasanna, who is a member of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, demanding the termination of Muslim workers and contractors appointed to carry out construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

In August 2024, during the people’s revolution in Bangladesh, Vishwaprasanna made a statement that attacks on Hindus were not just taking place in Bangladesh, but in India as well. “We have been noticing efforts to suppress those who raise their voice against attacks on Hindus. We need to be cautious and pray for the well-being of people,” he said.

In November 2024, Vishwaprasanna made a speech at a “Saints’ Conference” organised by the Karnataka Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Bengaluru, where he was reported to have advocated for a Constitution that reflects the interests of the majority, which he refuted. According to VHP leader, MB Puranik, Vishwaprasanna actually discussed concerns about farmers’ and temples’ land being claimed as waqf property, a charitable endowment under Islamic law.

“I only demanded that governments be inclusive and treat all citizens equally. Minority appeasement must stop,” Vishwaprasanna said. Alleging that certain groups were targeting him due to his support for Hindu causes, he stated, “No one can suppress the voice of Hindus.”

Members of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti condemned Vishwaprasanna’s remarks during the conference to replace the Indian Constitution with the Manusmriti, a controversial and casteist Hindu code of conduct.

In January 2025, Vishwaprasanna announced a week-long prayer campaign in Karnataka urging devotees to unite in seeking divine intervention for the protection of cattle against cow slaughter, violence and cruelty, which he said has deeply hurt Hindus. He warned that if these attacks continued, seers across Karnataka would come together for a collective fast to draw attention to the issue, urging the government to take serious measures to ensure the safety of cattle.