Societal concerns essential for seers: Pejawar pontiff

“The Matadheeshas should involve themselves in spreading religion, devotion and knowledge among the masses,” opined  Pejawar mutt Seer Sri Vishweshatheertha Sripada. Delivering the spiritual address at the Paryaya Durbar on the occasion of the installation of Shiroor Mutt pontiff Sri Lakshmivaratheertha Sripada as the new Paryaya seer here at Rajangana on Monday, he said that societal concerns besides virtues of morality are very essential to the seers who owe the responsibility of spreading dharma. Spiritual veracity ought to be the fraction of duties discharged by the seers, he said.

Recent happenings in and around globe pose threat to the basic edifice of cultural and traditional morals. Embracing and imbibing the spiritualistic philosophical thought might soothe the foreseen adversities of cultural and traditional haphazard, he added.

The power transition process that is being held for so many years in the Sri Krishna temple stands as a model for all the politicians, to follow the principles adorned by the seers for the smooth transition of power, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa assured to earmark Rs 50 crore in the forth coming budget for the comprehensive development of Udupi. The representatives from Sri Mantralaya Raghavendra Swami Mutt, Tirupati Tirurmala temple and Sri Dharmastala Manjunatheshwar temple offered prasadams brought from their respective places to the new Paryaya seer on the occasion.

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jithen Prasad, Rajyasabha MP Oscar Fernandes, High Court Judges Justice Javed Rahim, Justice Sridhar Rao Home Minister Dr V S Acharya, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP D V Sadananda Gowda, Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Industrialist Pramodh Madhwaraj and others were present.

Taking charge

Earlier, at 8.50 am, at the Kumbha Lagnam, Shiroor mutt pontiff Sri Lakshmivaratheertha Sripada ascended the sacred Paryaya Sarvajna Peeta amidst the chanting of Dwadasha Sthotra and Mangalaastaka, written and propagated by great saint and Dwaitha philosopher Sri Madhwacharya. He took over the charges from the outgoing Paryaya seer Sri Sugunendratheertha Sripada of Putthige Mutt to run the administration of Sri Krishna temple and conduct Sri Krishna Pooja for the next two years.

Sri Laxmivaratheertha Sripada had left for Dandathirtha, in the wee hours to take a holy dip in the holy pond.

Following which the seer wearing saffron silk Zari shawl and saffron turban on his head entered Udupi city at the old traditional entrance point at Jodukatte where he was received by the seers of Asta mutts.

All the swamijis seated on separate decorated palanquins were led in a magnificent and vibrant Paryaya procession.

On the arrival of the procession at the entrance of main Car Street, all the seers were given a warm welcome. Shiroor seer later visited Sri Anantheshwar and Chandreshwar temples situated in the Car Street before entering Sri Krishna temple.

Puttige seer welcomed the incoming seer at the entrance of the temple and led him to complete the handing over of the charge of Krishna temple ritual. There after Sri Laxmivaratheertha Sripada had darshana of the presiding deity Lord Krishna through Navagraha Kindi inside the sanctum sanctorum and prayed for the success of his term of Paryaya. Both the seers went in front of the statue of Saint Sri Madhwacharya where the outgoing Putthige seer handed over the temple keys and age old Akshaya Patra, the perennial bowl and spoon at 8.15 am to mark the transfer of administrative charges of the temple.

Later at the specified muhurtham, the outgoing Putthige seer offered the sacred seat of Paryaya Peeta from where he solemnised the entire power transition process of two year term to the incoming Shiroor seer to mark the transfer of Pooja rights at the temple.
Later, both the seers proceeded towards Badagu Malige, the old Durbar hall where an informal mini Paryaya Durbar was held. Garlands, Chandan and pleasantries were exchanged among the seers.

The new Paryaya seer also felicitated the outgoing and other Asta Mutt pontiffs. Following this, all pontiffs proceeded to Rajangana for the Durbar. ‘Sri Krishna Vittala Anugraha’ award distribution ceremony in the presence of Shirror mutt seer and Pejawar seer was held in the evening.