JOIN USThe Navanath Jhundi, a troupe comprising more than 500 sadhus and the new pontiff-designate of Yogeshwar (Jogi) Mutt Yogi Sri Nirmalnath, was accorded a warm welcome in the city on Friday.
The ‘Paryaya Raja Pattabhisheka’, anointing ceremony of the new ‘Raja’ of the mutt, will take place on the mutt premises at Kadri at 9.25 am on March 7. The ‘Pura Pravesha’ of the sadhus was marked by much fanfare with a procession of the Jhundi’ that started from Kottara and passed through Urwa Stores, Ladyhill, Kudroli, Car Street, Hampankatta, PVS, Bunts Hostel and Mallikatta, before culminating at Kadri Manjunatha Temple.
The Jhundi, which had arrived at Panambur from Mulki on February 25, had halted at Sri Nandaneshwara temple at Panambur.
The Jhundi was welcomed by Vittal Das Tantri, Kadali Sri Yogeshwar Mutt Paryaya Raja Pattabhisheka Mahotsava Samithi President H K Purushotham, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, MLA J R Lobo and others. The procession, which was accompanied by traditional musical instruments, puppetry troupe and Nasik band, was received with enthusiasm by the general public, who offered puja to the feet of religious leaders in the procession at various places. A number of religious and cultural programmes will be held at the mutt till March 7.
On March 7, Yogi Nirmalnath will be coronated as the new head of the mutt at a religious function.
Yogi Sri Nirmalnath was elected the new ‘Raja’ of the Mutt in the Kumbh Mela in 2015. Accompanied by a troupe of more than 500 sadhus, the 'Raja' traversed a distance of more than 1,100 km from Nasik to Mangaluru by foot (Navanath Jhundi Yatra), which took about six months. The 'Raja' carries with him the 'Patra Devata' which is worshipped by him not only through the Yatra, but also during his tenure of 12 years as head of the mutt (Peethadhipathi).
The mutt’s Peetadhipathi has a special role during the Kadri temple annual fair. During the Kadri chariot festival, he rides a hose in front of the Brahmaratha. The ritual was started by Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath.
A day prior to the Kadri temple fair, the Kadali mutt Peetadhipathi visits Mangaladevi temple and offers prayers by offering fruits, flowers, saree to Goddess and prays for the success of the fair. There is a close affinity between the Kadali Mutt and Venkatramana temple at Car Street as well. The idol of Sri Veeravenkatesha at the temple was given by a seer belonging to Nath cult to the temple in 1804.