Shiroor Mutt seer Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji ascends Paryaya Peetha at Udupi Sri Krishna temple

Udupi: Shiroor Mutt seer Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji ascended the Paryaya Peetha during the Paryaya Mahotsava held at Udupi Sri Krishna temple on Sunday.

Paryaya celebrations at Udupi Krishna temple marks the commencement of the two-year term when the Swamiji will take charge of offering daily pooja to Sri Krishna.

The ascension gives Swamiji the rights to manage the daily affairs of the Sri Krishna temple and the Mutt for a period of two years. In fact, this is the first paryaya of Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji.

Outgoing Puttige mutt seer Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji welcomed Shiroor mutt seer and presented him with the Akshaya Patra bestowed by Madhwacharya, along with Sattuga to mark the transfer of power.

Later, Shiroor mutt seer was seated on the Sarvajna Peetha, where he was offered felicitations and conveyed best wishes.

 Grand procession

A grand procession was held from Jodukatte to the Mutt in the wee hours of Sunday.

After completing the ritual holy bath late at night at Dandatirtha in Kaup, the Shiroor mutt seer arrived at Jodukatte, where he was accorded a ceremonial and grand welcome.

The air reverberated with the sounds of drums, while firecrackers were burst as part of the celebrations.

At Jodukatte, the seer offered prayers to the deity and was taken out in a procession.

Pontiffs of various other mutts participated in the procession. Public representatives and eminent personalities were present, while thousands of devotees lined the streets to witness the event.

Traditional folk forms such as Tattiraya, Keelu Kudure, Kunitabhajana troupes, and several cultural ensembles added colour and vibrancy to the procession.

When the procession reached Car Street (Rathabeedi), seer alighted from the palanquin and had darshan of Lord Krishna through the Kanakana Kindi.

He then visited the Ananteshwara and Chandramoulishwara temples to offer prayers, following which he entered the Sri Krishna mutt and had darshan of Lord Krishna through the Navaratna Kindi.