Devotees witness Brahma Kumbhabhishekam

By Pramod Mellegatti

SHAKATAPURA (CHIKMAGALUR DT.), FEB. 12.

A modest gathering of devotees witnessed the Brahma Kumbhabhishekam of the Sri Maha Ganapathi temple at the Sri Vidya Peetham here which was performed by Sri Jagadguru Badari Shankaracharya Sri Vidyabhinava Sri Krishnanandateertha Mahaswamiji on Monday.

The 33 year old swamiji climbed the temporarily erected platform atop the temple and poured holy water stored in 108 bronze kalashas as vedic hymns were recited.

The much-awaited event brought down the curtain on the four-day religious and cultural festivities held to mark the installation of the Sri Ganapathi temple and the completion of 20 years of the "Peetharohana" of the swamiji.

Special pujas were performed to Ganapathi before the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed. It was followed by the Shanthi Homa and Prayaschita Homa.

The swamiji came to the venue of the Maha Kumbhabhishekam in a procession which was led by the caparisoned temple elephant.

As part of the installation of the Maha Ganapathi idol in the newly built temple, Ashtabandh, Samyojanam, Kalatatva Homa, Sahasra Modaka Yaga, Sri Chandi Yaga and Sri Lalita Maha Yaga were performed before the Prathishtanyasam on Sunday.

Felicitations were offered to the swamiji on the occasion of his completing 20 years of "Peetharohana".

Those who spoke in praise of the swamiji's single-minded devotion included the judge of the Madras High Court, Ms. Justice Prabha Devaran, the Commissioner of the Charitable Trusts, Mr. Seetharaman and the former Union minister, Mr. Kadambur Janardhan.

The President of the Sri Guru Peethabhivardhaka Sangha, Mr. A.N. Nagendra Rao, felicitated the swamiji.

At the Abhijit Muhurutha, Sri Jagadguru's "Hamsa Peetharohanam" was arranged.

In his address, the swamiji exhorted people to follow the path of righteousness and derive peace and satisfaction through religious practices.

He said that the simplified "puranas" came into being when the Dharma Sastras were found to be difficult. Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharatha were not mere religious books but reflected the essence of Indian culture.

The President of the Shakatapuram Sri Vidya Peetham, Mr. G.K. Ramamurthi, and the Administrator of the Peetham were among those present.

Earlier Mr. Ramamurthi laid the foundation stone for the Maha Dwara of the proposed temple complex in the presence of the swamiji.

Significant donations made to the swamiji and the Sri Vidya Peetham on the occasion included a Trishabhu Kusuma Mala in gold, weighing about 8 kg by Stree Suhasini Sangh of Chennai, an offer made by Mr. Raghavan of Chennai to bear the construction cost of Rs. 34 lakhs for the Sri Nivas -- the new abode of the swamiji, a silver mantapam donated by Saudi Lata Harihar Subramaniam, gold footwear for the swamiji presented by an industrialist, Mr. Jayam Lapsia, of Mumbai and the silver idol of Maha Ganapathi along with a pedestal by the Sundara Sastry family.

The swamiji laid the foundation stone for the Archana guest house and declared open the Bhavani Kumar Mahadwar leading to the Sri Vidya Ganapathi temple.

The Deputy Conservator of Forests (Koppa Division) Mr. Markandeya, inaugurated the "Heramba" forest in the vicinity of the Mahasamsthanam.

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