Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swami of Kaniyur Math ascended the Paryaya Peetha, also called the Sarvajna Peetha, at the Sri Krishna Math/temple here on Saturday.
This is the second Paryaya of the 37-year-old seer. He had ascended the Paryaya Peetha for the first time on January 1, 1999, as his preceptor Vidyavarinidhi Tirtha passed away on December 29, 1998 in the midst of the Paryaya of the Kaniyur Math (1998–2000). The Kaniyur seer’s ascension gives him the right to worship Lord Krishna and manage the affairs of the Krishna Math/temple for the next two years.
Pomp and gaiety marked the ascension ceremony. Sri Vidyavallabha Tirtha went to Danda Tirtha near Kaup, about 12 km from here, and took a holy dip there at 2.15 a.m. He arrived at Jodu Katte here around 2.30 a.m., where he was welcomed by a large number of devotees.
ProcessionA grand procession began from Jodu Katte at 3 a.m. As many as 17 tableaux and 28 cultural troupes took part in the procession. The devotees carried the presiding deity of the Kaniyur Math — Sri Yoganarasimha — in a palanquin. The tradition of carrying seers of the Ashta Maths by people was given up. Instead, the seers sat in palanquins atop decorated vehicles and followed the chief deity, with Sri Vidyavallabha Tirtha leading them. The seers included Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math, Vidyasagar Tirtha Swami of Krishnapur Math, Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami of Palimar Math, and Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, junior seer of the Pejawar Math. Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Math sat in a decorated vehicle with an idol of Lord Ganesh in a palanquin (in the vehicle) behind him. The procession culminated at the Car Street at 4.15 a.m.
After having a ‘darshan’ of Lord Krishna through the Kanakadasa Kindi, the Kaniyur seer went to Sri Chandramouleshwara and Sri Ananteshwara temples and offered prayers. He came to the entrance of the Sri Krishna temple, where he was welcomed by the outgoing Paryaya seer, Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swami of Sode Vadiraja Math.
Both the seers then went to the Madhwa Sarovara, washed their feet and entered the Sri Krishna temple and offered prayers to Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana.
Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha handed over the ‘akshaya patre’ and ‘sattuga’ (a vessel and a ladle dating back to the times of Sri Madhwacharya) and the keys to the sanctum sanctorum to Sri Vidyavallabha Tirtha, marking the formal transfer of authority from one math to another, at 5.40 a.m. Sri Vidyavallabha Tirtha ascended the Paryaya Peetha. The seers of other Ashta Maths were felicitated at Badagu Malige.
Sri Vidyavallabha Tirtha, along with other seers, then participated in the Paryaya Durbar at Rajangana. A large number of devotees witnessed the darbar proceedings.
