Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Sep 3: Head of Pejawar Math here, Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji, who was observing the annual Chaturmasya Vritam at the Math's branch at the cow shelter at Neelavara village, ended the Vritam on Wednesday September 2.
In the morning, he offered Maha puja to the Math's presiding deity, Sri Ram Vttal. He then performed the 'Visarjan' process of the Chaturmasya Mrittika at the holy pond attached to the cow shelter. In the afternoon, he arrived at the bank of River Sita located nearby from the cow shelter, duly accompanied by his disciples, as well teams of women chanting Bhajans and students who chanted hymns. After he reached there, on behalf of Neelavara, Cherkady, Petri, and Aroor villages, as well as Brahmavar taluk panchayat, Brahmavar Agricultural Service Cooperative Society and Brahmavar Brahmana Sangha, the Swamiji was felicitated.
The Swamiji thereafter offered tender coconut and flowers to River Sita and performed Arati. A local, Vittal Poojary, carried the Swamiji along with the idol of Lord Sri Ram in his decorated boat and moved the boat in the river as symbol of 'Seemollanghana' ritual. The Swamiji returned and visited village deity, Goddess Mahisha Mardini temple and paid obeisance to the Goddess. On behalf of the temple, managing committee head Raghuram Madhyasta, chief priest Krihna Adiga and others accorded him ceremonial welcome and honoured him on behalf of the temple.
Many devotees were present on the occasion. The Swamiji's Chaturmasya Vritam came to an end with his return to Udupi and prostrating before the idols of Lord Krishna and Mukhyaprana. On that occasion, members of Sri Ekanatheshwari Temple Amateur Yakshagana Artists Association presented a Talamaddale programme depicting 'Dandaka Damna' episode.
The Chaturmasya Vritam of Pejawar Swamiji this time has come to be recognised as unique for various reasons. This happens to be the first ever Chaturmasya Vritam of Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji after he took over reins of the Math after the demise of his Guru and predecessor, Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji and also after having been appointed as a member of Ayodhya Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerthakshetra Trust.
In the past, none of the Math heads from Udupi had performed Chaturmasya Vritam in the areas near Brahmavar to the north of Udupi, even though there were occasions where it was performed in Sonda near Sirsi. On the occasion of laying the foundation stone for Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the Swamiji had offered special worship to the idol of Lord Ram at Neelavara, which happened to be a unique occasion.