Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP) 

Mangaluru, Jul 1: Former union minister and veteran Congress leader, B Janardhana Poojary, who had taken a pledge before the Lok Sabha election never to visit Lord Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli here again if Congress candidate for Lok Sabha election, Mithun Rai, failed to get elected from Dakshina Kannada constituency, has regretted for having taken the said vow.

Poojary visited Lord Gokarnanatha Temple on Sunday June 30, and implored the Lord to forgive him for having taken the above vow. Poojary, speaking at Town Hall on March 25 this year just before the filing of nomination papers by Rai, had promised to stop visiting not only the temple at Kudroli, but also churches and mosques, if Rai fails get elected. This unusual pledge had given rise to debate at various forums.

Poojary who unexpectedly came to the temple on Sunday evening, circumambulated the main sanctum sanctorum and idols of family deities at the temple, and offered prayers. He confessed in the presence of the gods that he had committed a blunder and sought forgiveness.

This happened to be his first visit to the temple after the March 25 vow. Poojary, who is credited with the construction of this magnificent temple by putting to use his organizational skills, was otherwise a frequent visitor to it. 

Poojary told the media persons that he had committed the greatest mistake of his life by taking a vow not to visit the temple. He said he was repenting it and expressed the view that no one should take such vows. "I felt today afternoon like getting inspiration from the divine to visit the temple and pray to the deities to repent for my mistake. I accordingly have come here to ask the Lord to forgive me. I will similarly beseech in the churches and mosques," he stated.