Daijiworld Media Network- Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Dec 12: A Vedic scholar from the district too got the once in a lifetime opportunity of performing rituals at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new parliament building at New Delhi.
The responsibility of overseeing religious rituals connected with the foundation laying ceremony in which Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone, was given to the Sringeri Math. Raghavendra Bhat, a native of Shankarnarayana in the district, who happens to be the current priest of Sringeri Math at Gurugram in Haryana, took part in the ceremony and guided the procedures.
On behalf of Sringeri Math, T V Shivakumar Sharma, K S Laxminarayana Somayaji, Ganesh Somayaji, C Nagaraj Adiga from Sringeri, and Raghavendra Bhat and Rishyashringa Bhat from Delhi, took part in the procedures.
Raghavendra Bhat, speaking to a Kannada daily, said that preparations for the ceremony were made as per the instructions of the administrative officer of Sringeri Math, Dr G R Gaurishankar. He said that the officials extended full cooperation, and Ganapathi Puja, Punyavachan, Bhuveneshwari Puja and other religious programmes were held. He said that the Jagadguru of Sringeri had sent a blessed conch, along with the pedestal of nine jewels.
Raghavendra Bhat is from Kupparu, Shankarnarayana. He is the son of the late Shankar Bhat and Susheela Bhat couple. He had his high school education at his native place after which he pursued Vedic education at Kollur. He pursued higher education in religious procedures from Vaman Bhat Kamalashile. He has served at the Delhi branch of Sringeri Math since the last ten years. He is the teacher at the Vedic school at Gurugram from 2011. Every year, 1 5 to 20 students get trained by him in Vedic knowledge. Bhat said that the programme in which the Prime Minister participated was memorable and that he personally explained to the PM about the puja and procedures at every stage of the foundation laying ceremony. He said he also presented to the PM the Prasadam of Goddess Sharadamba apart from blessed rice, shawl and a book which were sent by the Jagadguru on behalf of Sringeri Math.