Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 23: Paramapoojya Shri 108 Shri Raghuvarendra Teertha Shripadangalavaru, Pontiff (Mathadhisha) of Shri Madachyutaprekshacharya Mahasamsthana, Shri Bheemanakatte Matha, Durvasapuram, Tirthahalli, said that Pejawara Sri Vishweshatirtha Swamiji will forever remain a universally revered saint, whose life and penance continue to inspire society.
He was addressing a religious gathering during the sixth Aradhanotsava of Jagadguru Sri Madhvacharya Mahasamsthana, Udupi Pejawara Adhokshaja Mathadhisha, Yatikula Chakravarti, Paramapoojya Sri 1008 Sri Vishweshatirtha Swamiji, held on Tuesday morning at the Sri Vishweshatirtha Sabha Bhavan, Madhva Bhavan (Pejawara Matha), Santacruz East.
“Vishweshatirtha Swamiji’s spiritual strength, social commitment and inclusive Hindu leadership made him a globally respected saint. His name has become synonymous with Udupi Swamijis. Remembering him repeatedly is not just a tradition, but a duty of the Hindu society,” Raghuvarendra Teertha Swamiji said, adding that the Aradhanotsava itself was the result of the saint’s lifelong tapasya and sacrifice for dharma.
Under the guidance of Pejawara Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji, special rituals and poojas were conducted as part of the sixth Aradhana Mahotsava. The programme began with worship of Digvijaya Sri Ramachandra Devaru, the presiding deity at Madhva Bhavan, followed by a grand maha aarati to Sri Krishna and Mukhyaprana Devaru at the stone shrine within the Matha. Shri Raghuvarendra Teertha Swamiji later blessed the assembled devotees, commemorating the Krishnaikya guru, Sri Vishweshatirtha Swamiji.
The event was organised jointly by the Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha Pratishtana, Pejawara Matha, and disciples of the revered yativarya.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr Ramadas Upadhyaya Renjala, chief administrator of the Matha, outlined the significance of the occasion and highlighted the spiritual lineage of the Bheemanakatte Matha and Shri Raghuvarendra Teertha Swamiji. He remarked that the presence of Raghuvarendra Swamiji at the Aradhanotsava was akin to the divine presence of Sri Rama himself, reflecting the guru’s compassion, generosity and exceptional virtues.
Devotional singing formed a major highlight of the programme, with Madhvesha Bhajana Mandali, Santacruz; Vagdevi Bhajana Mandali, Borivali; Charkop Bhajana Mandali; and Sri Mahishamardini Mandir Bhajana Mandali, Jairaj Nagar, Borivali, rendering bhajans in praise of Sri Vishweshatirtha Swamiji. Large numbers of devotees participated in the collective bhajane. Vidwan Raghavendra Bhat Undaru performed special poojas to Sri Krishna Devaru, while the Aradhanotsava was celebrated amidst the rhythmic reverberations of traditional chende vadyam.
Prominent personalities present on the occasion included Sujatha R Shetty (Santacruz), Shekhar J Saliyan, Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha Pratishtana treasurer Avinash Shastri, Pejawara Matha Mumbai branch administrator Vidwan Hari Bhat Puttige, priests Subrahmanya Bhat (Virar Road), Gururaj Acharya (Tirthahalli), Mukunda Baitt Mangalkar, Ramesh Bhat, Vishnutirtha Sali, Pavan Kumar Annigeri, Mala Vasudeva Rao, Harish Bhat, Santosh Prasad, Vidyapati Srivatsa, Bhargava Tirthahalli, Srinivasa Bhat (Parel), and several other members of the Matha’s priestly fraternity, who conducted the religious proceedings.