Udupi: Countdown Begins for the Solemn Bi-annual Udupi Paryaya
Report by Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
Pictures from Shri Shiruru Mutt

Udupi, Jan 13: The countdown for the grand and solemn bi-annual Paryaya rituals at the Shri Krishna Temple at Udupi has just begun. On Monday, 18th January 2010, exactly after two years of the last Paryaya in 2008, the head of the Shiruru Mutt, Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha will ascend the Paryaya Pitha at the Shri Krishna Mutt and Temple at Udupi. The Shiruru Swamiji will be succeeding the present Paryaya Swamiji, Shri Sugunendra Thirtha. The preparations that have been going on for the last one year are nearly complete and the devotees of Shri Krishna and followers of Shri Madhvacharya in particular and the people of Udupi and the surrounding regions in general are waiting eagerly for the solemn Paryaya rituals which are just a week away from today.

The two yearly Paryaya has a history of nearly seven hundred years. It is a religious ritual that takes place bi-annually in the Shri Krishna Mutt and Temple of Udupi. By this ritual, the worship (puja) and administration of both the Shri Krishna Mutt and the Temple is shared by the heads (Swamijis) of the Eight Mutts established by Shri Madhvacharya, proponent of the Dvaita philosophy. Every two years, during the Paryaya, the puja and administration of the Shri Krishna Mutt and the Temple is handed over by one Swamiji of one of the Eight Mutts to the other Swamiji of another Mutt.

The rotation of the privilege of worshipping Lord Krishna and the right to administer the Shri Krishna Mutt and the Temple amongst the Eight Mutts is fixed. The rotation starts with the Palimaru Mutt and ends with the Pejavara Mutt. The order of succession to the Paryaya among the Eight Mutts are: Palimaru, Adamaru, Krishnapura, Puttige, Shiruru, Sodhe, Kaniyuru aand Pejavara.  The last Paryaya was held on 18th January 2008 by which the privilege to worship and administer the Shri Krishna Mutt and Temple was handed over to Shri Sugunendra Thirtha Swamiji of the Puttige Mutt by the Shri Krishnapura Mutt Swamiji.

Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha Swamiji, the head of the Shiruru Mutt, who is 44 years old has already successfully conducted his earlier two terms of Paryaya during 1972-74 and 1986-88. This will be his third term of Paryaya to worship at the Shri Krishna Temple and look after the temple administration for the next two years.

The preparations for the Paryaya had begun practically one year in advance. Before ascending the Paryaya Pitha at the Shri Krishna Mutt, the ascending Swamiji, Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha had to perform a number of rituals among which Akki (rice) Muhurtha, Kattige (firewood) Muhurtha, Bale (Banana) Muhurtha and Bhattha (paddy) Muhurtha are significant.  Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha has performed all these four Muhurthas from March till December 2009.

The Shiruru Mutt being the Paryaya Mutt has been thoroughly renovated and was inaugurated on 11th November 2009. In order to give out information regarding the Paryaya and other activities of the Shiruru Mutt, a website was also inaugurated by Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha Swamiji on 17th December 2009. On 18th December 2009, the incumbent Paryaya Swamiji, Shri Sugunendra Thirtha of the Puttige Mutt performed the ‘Chappara Muhurtha’ on the occasion of the Paryaya Utsav  at the Shiruru Mutt.

Another important and significant pre-Paryaya ritual was the grand ‘Pura Pravesha’ of Swami Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha on 1st January 2010. On his arrival in the evening from the Shiruru village near Hiriyadka, 21 kilometres from Udupi where the main branch of the Shiruru Mutt is located, the Swamiji offered prayers at the Mahisha Mardini Temple at Kadiyali and was later taken in a colourful procession from the Sharada Mantapa through the streets of Udupi passing through the city bus stand, service bus stand, Triveni Circle, Head Post Office Road and Sanskrit College before terminating at the Car Street. The procession was enriched by folk, Yakshagana, tiger and doll dancers, musical bands and bhajan mandalis.

After the grand and well-attended procession, the Shri Lakshmivara Swamiji had ‘Dhuli Darashana’ of Lord Shri Krishna through the ‘Kanakana Kindi’. He then visited temples of Anatheshwara and Shri Chandra Mouleshwara and offered prayers. He was greeted by Shri Sugunendra Thirtha Swamiji of the Puttige Mutt, the present Paryaya Swamiji at the entrance of the Shri Krishna Mutt.

The traditional Paryaya ceremonies and rituals have been conducted in a similar manner since the beginning of the tradition without much deviation. On 18th January 2010, the Paryaya rituals will start from early morning at Udupi for which preparations will begin from the previous day itself. The Paryaya Swamiji will go to a place called Dandathirtha and will take a dip in the holy pond and will offer puja as per tradition. He will enter Udupi city on the early morning of 18th January 2010 at around 3 AM and will be taken in procession from Jodukatte, near Taluka Office to the temple. The new Paryaya Swami and other Swamijis will be carried in palanquins along with cultural shows and bhajans.

The Paryaya Swamiji, Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha will then enter the Shri Krishna Mutt accompanied by the outgoing Swamiji, Shri Sugunendra Thirtha where the reins of the Shri Krishna Mutt and the Temple will be formally handed over. The handing over ceremony will be held at the Sarvajna Pitha inside the Shri Krishna Mutt. At this ceremony the outgoing Swamiji, Shri Sugunendra Thirtha will hand over articles like Akshaya Patra and keys to the ascending Swamiji, Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha. Later, in the Vasanta Mahal a formal durbar will take place. A public ceremony will be held within the premises of the Shri Krishna Mutt for the benefit of the public.

The city of Udupi is fully geared up to the age old Paryaya rituals that have been conducted without a break since around 700 years. A number of dignitaries from the government including the Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, religious heads, devotees of Shri Krishna and tourists from foreign countries and within India are expected to witness this grand Paryaya Rituals on 18th January 2010.