Udupi: Seer performs Kattige Muhurtha

Pics by Snehalatha Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 08 July 2011: The ritual ‘Kattige Muhurtha’ (storing of firewood) was performed by Sri Sode Vadiraj mutt seer Sri Vishwavallabhatheertha Sripada of Sri Sode Vadiraja mutt, as the third leg of preparation for the biennial Paryaya at Sri Krishna mutt here on Thursday.

 

Symbolically, head loads of firewood carried by the people was taken in a procession from Sode mutt, situated around the main Car Street to the backyard of Sri Krishna Mutt where the firewood was piled up artistically like a cart.

 

This piled firewood would be utilised by the Paryaya mutt during their two year Paryaya period which comes once in two years among the seers of Asta Mutt (Eight mutts) on rotation.

 

Earlier to Kattige Muhurtha, the incoming seer of Sode Mutt who is ascending ‘Paryaya Peeta’ to take charge of the temple administration and Sri Krishna Pooja rights for two years from the outgoing Paryaya Shiroor mutt seer Sri Laxmivaratheertha Swamiji on January 18 , 2012, has already performed ‘Bale Muhurtham’ (planting of Banana saplings) and ‘Akki Muhurtham’ (storing of rice). The preparatory process of main Paryaya festival will be culminated with the fourth and final leg preparation of ‘Bhattha Muhurtha’ (storing of paddy) which will be held during December this year.

 

 

The concept of ‘Kattige Ratha’ (cart of firewood) came into existence over 500 years ago by great saint and pontiff of Sri Sode Vadiraja mutt who introduced the practice of biennial Paryaya system in place of two month Paryaya term.

 

As huge firewood was required during the two year period, firewood was stored in an artistic manner giving a shape of “Ratha” at the backyard of the temple instead of haphazard manner.

 

According to mutt sources, the height of this Kattige Ratha will be about 25 ft and 22 ft diameter in which 120 tonnes of firewood (13 lorry load) could be stored.

 

About 20 labourers will complete Kattige Ratha in a month time.

 

Earlier, this stored firewood was meeting the requirement for six months whereas with increased devotees and extension of free food to school children in Udupi district, the stored firewood was exhausted within four months.

 

Sri Vishwavallabhatheertha Sripada is ascending “Peeta” for the first time and after performing “Chaturmasya Vratham” at Sode mutt in Sonda of Uttara Kannada district will take up pilgrimage tour. He will perform “Purapravesha” in the first week of January. He will ascend the Paryaya throne on January 18, 2012.