Udupi: Puthige Swamiji Enters City to Spectacular Reception

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NR)
Pics: RK Durga Digitals

Udupi, Dec 29: The 'Pura Pravesha' ceremony of Sugunendratheertha Swamiji of Puthige Math was held here on Friday, December 28, heralding a month-long series of cultural and religious programmes to be held here. With the 'Pura Pravesha', the town is all set to hold discussions, arguments and counter arguments over Puthige swamiji's 'Peetharohana' issue. The Puthige swamiji however, seems to be in a better frame of mind as he has now received support from Vibhudeshatheertha Swamiji of Admar math over the paryaya issue.

The Puthige swamiji who will be ascending  the 'Sarvajna Peetham' or the 'Parayaya Peetham' on January 18, was given a rousing welcome here on his arrival at the gates of the city. The seer and his entourage were received with  pomp and splendour at Jodukatte at 4.30 pm. The swamiji entered carrying the statue of the principle deity of the math Lord Vithal and accepted garlands from dignitaries, guests and others. From there the procession passed through taluk office-Diana circle-Koladapete-Thenkupete and finally concluded at Car Street. The swamiji will be confined to Car Street for the next few days till the new paryaya swamiji takes over the puja Kainkarya of Lord Krishna. 

On entering the Shree Krishna temple premises, Lakshmivara Swamiji of Shiroor math welcomed Puthige swamiji right in front of the Shiroor math. Later Puthige swamiji offered his obesience to Lord Krishna from ‘Kanakana Kindi’ and then proceeded on to Chandramaulishwara and Anantheshwara Temples. The swamiji reached Shree Krishna Math at 7 pm and offered prayers to Lord Krishna, after which he went to Puthige Math and offered prayers to the deity in the math. He offered "navagraha danas" and prayers before entering the Paryaya math.

In a lavish and spectacular manner the 'pura pravesha' procession was brought into the city  in a colourful chariot against the backdrop of chanting of Veda goshas, ‘kombu kahale,’ bajana teams, 'chande mela', 'suggi kunita' saxophone, band sets, various flags indicating sanctity of Hinduism, with vehicles displaying the pictures of former seers of Puthige Math alongwith a variety of colourful umbrellas. On the procession path, the devotees flocked in large numbers to seek blessings from math principle deity Lord Vittala.  

A G Kodgi, MLC Dr V S Acharya, former MLAs U R Sabhapathi and Raghupati Bhat, former MP Vinaykumar Sorake, president of Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha Pramod Madhwaraj, and president of district unit of Janata Dal (S) Deviprasad Shetty were among the dignitaries who participated in the procession.