Pics: Silvester D'Souza / Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur/Udupi (HB/SP)

Updated

Kundapur/Udupi, Nov 20: Chief minister (CM) of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, visited temple town, Kollur in the taluk, on Monday November 20. On her arrival, managing trustee of the temple, Harish Shetty, extended her a warm welcome.

Raje had arrived at Mangaluru from Bengaluru by a special flight. From there, she came to Areshirur near Kollur by helicopter. After reaching the temple, she offered special puja.

During the dignitary's visit, tight police security had been arranged. Entry into the temple has been off the limits for the general public from 10 am to 3 pm.

No advance info - devotees suffer

Devotees as usual came from far away places to have the darshan of the goddess on Monday too, unaware of the fact that they would not be able to go inside as no advance information was available. Many had to return without paying obeisance to the presiding deity of Kollur temple, Goddess Mookambika, disappointed.

Udupi district BJP president, Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, BJP leader, Sukumar Shetty, and members of the managing committee of the temple were present.

Udupi

After visiting Shree Mookambika Temple at Kollur, Vasundhara Raje proceeded to Shree Krishna Math in Udupi.

In Udupi, she offered prayers and received ‘prasadam’ from Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Paryaya Pejawar Math.
After 'darshan' of Lord Sri Krishna, she received Anugraha Manthrakshate from the Swamiji. She was offered a saree and an idol of Sri Krishna as a token of gratitude.

Raje was accompanied by her son Dushyanth Singh.

"I have always wanted to visit the math and meet Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji many times. I have known Swamiji for a long time now. Our family also knows him very well. My mother was a devotee and so am I. Now my son and grandchildren have met him. So four generations have met him and sought blessings," she said.

She also praised Swamiji for his dedication and maintaining the math beautifully.

"Kollur Mookambika Temple is very beautiful. I have tried to come almost 5 to 7 times to Udupi but was not able to visit. There is a saying that everything has happens at its own time. You can try as much as you want, but if God does not want, it will not happen," she said and added that the temple visits have been some amazing moments of her life.

Raje refused to comment on the political issues of Karnataka.