The eight-day-long annual Kanaka Sadbhavana Jyoti Rathayatre, which began from Sampigehalli near Bengaluru on October 31, concluded here on Monday. The yatre was held to mark the 530th Sri Kanakadasa Jayanti celebrations.
The yatre, organized by the Kanaka Sadhavana Jyoti Rathayatre (KSJR) Samiti, came from Jodu Katte to the Kankadasa Mandira at the Car Street here. At the end of the Yatre, the Kanaka Sabhavan Jyoti or torch was brought near the Mandira in the presence of Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt. Then, prayers were offered to the idol of Kanakadasa at the Mandira.
Later, speaking at a public function at Rajangana, Vishwesha Tirtha said that Kanakadasa belonged not just to the Kuruba or Madhwa communities but to the entire State and the country.
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It was essential that people followed the ideals and teachings of Kanakadasa.
Describing Sri Kanakadasa and Sri Basaveshwara as stalwarts of the Bhakti Movement, he said that it was for the sake of Kanakadasa that the Lord Krishna himself turned to give his “darshan.”
Some intellectuals and “sanatanis” had questioned this miracle. But no less a person than the reformist seer, Sri Vadiraja had alluded to this miracle in one of his compositions. Besides, emphasising on devotion, Kanakadasa’s compositions urged people to follow an ethics, the seer said.
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Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, recalled that his father and the then MLA of Udupi, late Malpe Madhwaraj was responsible for the construction of the Kanakadasa Mandira near the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple in 1968. The then Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa had laid the foundation stone for the Mandira, he said.
Earlier, Mr. Madhwaraj inaugurated the Kanakadasa Jayanti celebrations organized by the District Administration here. The Kanaka Adhyayana Samshodhana Peetha, Manipal University, also held the Kanakadasa Jayanti.