Raja Pavamanacharya was on Saturday appointed the 40th pontiff of the Mantralaya Raghavendra Mutt, at a ceremony at the Mutt premises at Hosaritti in the taluk on Saturday morning.
Pavamanacharya, rechristened Subudhendrateertha, was given the ‘sanyasa deeksha’ by senior pontiff, the 80-year-old Suyateendrateertha, by handing over the holy coconut as per tradition at 8.45 am.
The senior pontiff said his advancing age had led him to appoint a successor and that Pavamanacharya was chosen, keeping in mind his scholarship. The meeting to select the successor was held in the presence of the senior pontiff. Devotees celebrated the appointment of a successor by bursting crackers.
Pavamanacharya, 41, is known for being upright. He had kept himself away from the Mutt as a mark of protest, when his efforts to instal his father, Giriyacharya, as the pontiff failed six years ago. He could not remain away from the Mutt for long and he was brought back into its fold as the Dewan by Suyateendrateertha.
Pavamanacharya is known for his relations with all communities including dalits, Muslims and Christians. He had given away his money, gold and silver articles to those whose lives were shattered in Mantralaya village during the floods a few years ago.
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