Udupi: Seers’ tussle breaks tradition, Two rathotsavas held

Pics By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

• Two rathotsavas held for the first time in Udupi’s history

 

Udupi, 09 Sep 2012: Differences among the Ashta Mutt seers seem to be a never-ending saga. On Sunday, it resulted in two car festivals on the streets of the temple town. But devotees did not complain, as it was a twin delight for them.

 

Shiroor Mutt seer Lakshmivarateertha broke centuries-old tradition of the Ashta Mutts by organising a parallel ‘Rathotsava,’ as if to challenge the one held later by Paryaya seer Vishwavallabhateertha of the Sode Vadiraja Mutt on the occasion of Sri Krishna Leelotsava, that followed Saturday’s Krishna Janmashtami celebrations.

 

For the first time in the history of the Krishna Mutt, the Shiroor Mutt seer broke with tradition originally started by Madhwacharya, who propounded the Dwaita philosophy more than 800 years ago.

 

He performed all rituals similar to those of the Paryaya seer. The only difference was that the idol of Lord Krishna was taken in a procession through the ‘ratha beedhi’ in a silver chariot, while it was the golden chariot in the case of the procession led by the Paryaya seer.

 

 

It is said Shiroor Mutt seer Lakshmivarateertha and Puttige Mutt seer Sugunendrateertha were not invited by the Paryaya seer for the ‘Arghyapradana’ ritual on Saturday night, much to the chagrin of the Shiroor Mutt seer. However, the latter offered ‘arghya’ to the deity later.

 

The differences between the Shiroor Mutt seer and the Sode Mutt seer cropped up during the Paryaya celebrations early this year.

 

The Shiroor Mutt seer had openly supported the Puttige seer, who was not invited for the biennial celebrations for undertaking an overseas tour, as crossing the seas is considered an unholy act.

 

The parallel fete led by the Shiroor Mutt seer also had events like ‘mosarukudike’ (breaking of clay pots filled with curd and coloured water, hung from specially-erected wooden poles). The Shiroor Mutt seer also threw coconuts, fruits, eatables (like laddus) and coins at devotees as ‘prasadam,’ a practice usually followed by the Paryaya seer. The idol that was carried in the silver chariot by the Shiroor Mutt seer was immersed in the temple pond ‘Madhwa Sarovara,’ to mark the finale of their celebrations.

 

The Shiroor Mutt seer later defended the parallel celebrations, in a chat with reporters, saying he was a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna. He said “I love Krishna and I don’t find anything wrong as I am not breaking the age-old tradition. This is the way I offer my devotion to my Lord.”

 

“He had appeared in my dreams last night and asked me to organise a separate utsav for him. I am just fulfilling his wish,” he said.

 

However, he declined any other reason for the parallel celebrations.

 

“I have not done this for publicity and I do everything to express my devotion to my lord,” he said. The Sode Vadiraja Mutt pontiff was not available for comment.