Religious rites mark Wadiyar's first death anniversary

The three-day Vaikuntasamaradhane — first death anniversary — of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, as per the Chandramana calendar, attended by a host of VIPs, concluded at the Kalyana Mantapa inside the Amba Vilas Palace here on Monday.

Wadiyar  died on December 10 last year. But, as per the Chandramana calendar, the corresponding day this year is December 1. The rituals had begun on Saturday itself, under the guidance of a team of palace priests.

Prasadam from 126 temples — including Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hill; Chaluvarayaswamy temple, Melkote; and Srikanteshwara temple, Nanjangud — arrived at the palace before puja was offered to a portrait of the late scion of the Yadu dynasty, amid chanting of Vedic hymns. Puja was also offered to portraits of Ramanujacharya and Vedanta Deshikar of the Vishishtadvaitha sect.

The scion’s widow Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, sisters Indrakshidevi and Meenakshidevi, eldest nephew Chaduranga Kantharaja Urs, members of the Wadiyar family and relatives took part in the ceremony. Pramoda Devi, who was seen supervising the ceremonies, became emotional when she offered a garland to the portrait of her late husband.

The Rajaguru, Abhinava Vagisha Swami of Bramhatantra Swatantra Parakala Mutt, was accorded a welcome by Pramoda Devi, while Kantharaja Urs offered ‘padapuja’. Earlier, religious ceremonies were held at Madhuvana, the official burial ground for the members of the Wadiyar family, where Wadiyar was laid to rest on December 11.

Mass feeding had been organised by the royal family at both Madhuvana and near Curzon Park abutting the Palace. Over 10,000 people were served food. Inside the palace, around 1,000 guests were allowed. The guests were served a 22-dish fare, including ‘kosambari’, pineapple ‘gojju’, ‘thovve’, ‘godhi payasa’, ‘kadamba bathu’, ‘masale vade’ and ‘laadu’.

Home Minister K J George, who visited the palace, refused to comment, but said he was close to Wadiyar and that the latter used to invite him for all functions he hosted in Bengaluru. “His untimely death was a great loss,” he said. MLAs M K Somasekhar, Vasu, Tanveer Sait and G T Devegowda, Mayor R Lingappa, Deputy Mayor Mahadevamma, former cricketer Dodda Ganesh were present.