Pejawar Math performs ‘Baale Muhurta’, the first of the preliminaries before the next Paryaya

The Pejawar Math performed the ‘Baale Muhurta’, the first of the preliminaries before the next Paryaya festival, here on Saturday.

Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math will be ascending the Paryaya Peetha, also known as the Sarvajna Peetha, at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna math and temple, established by Sri Madhwacharya, exponent of Dwaita philosophy, here on January 18, 2016.

The Pejawar seer will be creating history as he will be ascending the ‘Paryaya Peetha’ for the fifth time. No seer of the ‘Ashta Maths’ or eight maths of Udupi has ascended the ‘Paryaya Peetha’ more than four times since the two-year Paryaya system came into existence in 1522.

The biennial Paryaya marks the change of authority to manage the Sri Krishna math and temple and exclusive rights to worship Lord Krishna from one math to another among the ‘Ashta Maths’ of Udupi.

Elaborate rituals marked the ‘Baale Muhurta.’ After offering prayers at the Pejawar Math, a group of scholars and priests visited the Sri Chandramouleshwara Temple, Sri Ananteshwara Temple and Sri Krishna Temple and offered prayers there.

Then a group of devotees carried the plantain and ‘tulsi’ saplings around Car Street and planted them behind in the backyard of the Pejawar Math near Prahlada Gurukula, amidst chanting of mantras at 8.25 a.m.

Gopalakrishna Acharya, scholar, said that the significance of planting plantain and tulsi saplings was that the Paryaya swami requires tulsi leaves for various rituals at the Krishna Math and temple. The plantain leaves were used for serving food during various feasts at the temple, while plantains were offered at the temple, he said.

‘Model village’

Later speaking to presspersons, Vishwesha Tirtha said that during his fifth Paryaya, he would give priority to publication of books and CDs on philosophy in different languages for devotees. He would adopt a village in Udupi district and provide various facilities to turn it into a model village.

D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, was present.