Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 24: Akki Muhurat, the last of the Muhurats to the run up to to the ascension of Paryaya throne by Pejawar Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji during the third week of January, was performed on Thursday December 23.

After offering prayers and puja to the presiding deity of Pejawar Math, Diwan of the Math, Raghavendra Acharya, led a crowd of devotees and functionaries from other Maths, duly accompanied by musical instruments, to Lord Chandramouleshwara and Anantheshwara temples, where puja and prayers were offered. The entourage, which carried a decorated mura (rice packed inside dry paddy stalks woven together) of rice then proceeded to Srikrishna Math where puja was offered to Lord Srikrishna and Mukhyaprana.

The mura of rice was then led to Badagu Malige of the Math where it was placed. Puja was offered to the mura, which signifies the beginning of collection of rice and other donations from devotees by Pejawar Math towards preparation of food offered to the visitors to the Math. From now on, Pejawar Math will be accepting Horekanike from the devotees.

In the past, when food prepared for the day was exhausted and there were more devotees to be served, it is said, parched rice and jaggery were offered to enable to satiate their hunger. Parched rice coupled with jaggery also happens to be the first Naivedya (food offering) of the day to Lord Srikrishna.

Chief priest of the Math, Chitrapura Gopalakrishna Acharya, supervised the puja and other rituals. Noted philanthropist, Harikrishna Punaroor, former MLA, U R Sabhapathy, Balaji Raghavendra Acharya, secretatry of Paryaya Reception Committee, Rathnakumar, Janardhan Bhandarkar, and Diwans of all the Maths were present.

Paryaya term of Sri Vidyavallabhateertha Swamiji of Kaniyoor Math is set to end during the third week of January 2016. He is slated to hand over the baton of Paryaya to Octogenarian Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math then.