Shiroor Seer Accorded Rousing Reception on ’Pura Pravesha’
Udupi, Jan 2 (The Hindu): Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math, who will ascend the Paryaya Peetha on January 18 here, was given a rousing reception on his “pura pravesha” on Friday, which was preceded by a pre-Paryaya tour.
A large number of people gathered to welcome the swamiji. The procession of the seer began from Sharada Mantapa at about 5 p.m. Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji, who arrived from Hiriyadka village, offered prayers at Mahishamardhini Temple at Kadiyali here. He then sat on a decorated horse carriage behind a golden palanquin carrying the presiding deity of Shiroor Math, Anna Vittala, for the procession.
Flower petals’ shower
Just then, a helicopter hovered over Kadiyali and showered flower petals on the palanquin, horse carriage and the procession. The helicopter circled the procession thrice and showered flower petals. Besides flowers, pamphlets containing Sanskrit “subhashitas” were dropped from the helicopter.
The procession passed through the City Bus Stand, Service Bus Stand, Triveni Ciricle, Head Post Office Road and Sanskrit College before culminating at the Car Street. Traditionally dressed folk artistes and others added colour to the procession. The teams that participated in the procession included “Huli Vesha,” a women’s team from Kerala, “Markal Kunitha, “Dollu Kunitha,” Karaga Nritya,” trumpets, band-sets, team carrying coloured umbrellas, giant dancing dolls and bhajan teams. Behind these teams were vehicles carrying portraits of Vishwothama Tirtha, Lakshmindra Tirtha, Kanakadasa, Bhootaraja, Raghavendra, Vadiraja, Madhwacharya, Mukhyaprana (Hanuman), Krishna and Vittala.
After the procession culminated at the Car Street, Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji had “dhuli darshan” of Lord Krishna through the “Kanakana Kindi”.
He then visited the temples of Sri Chandramouleshwara, Sri Ananteshwara and Sri Krishna and offered prayers to the deities. He was greeted by Sugunendra Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math at the entrance of Sri Krishna Math.
Lakshmivara Tirtha swamiji then came to the entrance of Shiroor Math and offered “navagraha dana” and prayers before entering his (Shiroor) Math.
D.V. Sadananda Gowda, MP, and Raghupati Bhat, MLA, were present.