Udupi: Grand Event Marks Offering of New Brahma Ratha to Sri Krishna 

Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Jan 15: The newly-built Brahma Ratha at Udupi Sri Krishna Math was offered to Lord Shree Krishna in a grand ceremony on the occasion of Makara Sankramana Utsav on Monday January 14. The event marked the annual three-chariot festival. 

Shree Vishwavallabha Thirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Sri Sode Vadiraja Math, Shree Vishweshva Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Pejawar Math, Shree Vishwaprasanna Thirtha Swamiji, Shree Vidyasagara Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Krishnapura Math, Shree Vidyadheesha Thitha Swamiji of Shree Palimar Math pulled the chariot on the occasion and offered it to Lord Krishna. 

A stage programme was held at Car Street on the occasion. Sode Swamiji blessed and se said that the Brahma Ratha was built in record time because of the hard work and efforts put in by Balkur Gopalacharya and his team.
 
Savant Bemathi Vijayendra Acharya of Mysore described the Ratha in Jagganath Dasa’s song.

The earlier chariot was built 200 years back by Shree Vidhyasamudra Thirtha of Shree Krishnapura Math. 243 carvings in the old chariot have been attached to the new chariot. The remaining carvings are displayed in front of Bhuvaraaha Chatra in the premises of Sode Math.

Net 900 CFT trees out of nearly 1,200 CFT trees were used for the construction of the new chariot. The entire chariot is built with Saaguvani tree. If used properly the new chariot can last for next 500 years, opined the famous sculptor Balkur Gopalacharya who built the chariot.

The new chariot was built in record time of two months 23 days by 63 artistic sculptors. Along with 12 new cravings it has 1,134 attractive carvings. 28 steel rods have been used. Even though it is a new chariot, it has been built by retaining the old pattern.