Devotees throng Udupi temple for 'Bramharathotsava'

As a part of the annual seven days gala car festival ‘Saptotsav,’ the day-light ‘Bramharathotsava’ of Lord Sri Krishna, popularly known as ‘Choornotsava’ was held on the final day at Sri Krishna temple here with much religious fervour on Wednesday.

The daylight car festival was held under the guidance of Sode Vadiraja mutt seer Sri Vidyavallabhatheertha Swami. All previous six day Rathotsava were held during the night. Seers of Krishnapura mutt and Palimar mutt participated in the car festival which was held amidst huge crowd of devotees.

The specially made clay idol of Krishna was mounted on the huge chariot ‘Bramharatha’. Devotees pulled the chariot around the Car Street. After performing ‘Mahamangalarathi’ to the presiding deity of Lord Sri Krishna, sweets, coconuts, fruits and coins were thrown at the devotees by the participating Swamis from Bramharatha.

Choornotsava is being held annually to commemorate the installation of Shaligramashila idol of Sri Krishna in the child form with churning rod on one hand and rope on the other.

The idol was installed by great saint and Madhwa philosopher Sri Madhwacharya more than 800 years ago. It is said that the Shaligramashila Idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama covered by ‘Gopichandan mud’ were presented to Sri Madhwacharya by a sailor whose ship was rescued from wreck on the Arabian Sea by the Saint. The idol of Balarama was installed at Vadabhandeshwara, near Malpe beach by the saint while idol of Krishna was installed in Udupi on the Makarasankranthi day.  

after Rathotsava, the clay idol was immersed in ‘Madhwa Sarovar’ followed by a holy dip by the assembled seers and devotees. The presiding deity inside the sanctum sanctorum was specially decorated on the occasion. Mass feeding was also later held in the temple.

As a part of the seven day car festival, three chariots-- small, medium and huge ‘Bramharatha’-- was held last night to mark ‘Makara Sankranthi’. During the car festival, the idol of Lord Krishna was taken in the Bramharatha, while Lord Hanuman (Mukhyaprana) was taken in the medium Ratha and idols of Lord Anantheshwar and Sri Chandramouleeshwar, the presiding deities of oldest temples of Udupi were taken in the small Ratha.