Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 28:  Lord Vishnu is known as ‘Annabrahma’. Even the Upanishads identify the Lord as ‘Annabrahma’, the one who provides food and ensures that the food is properly assimilated. Sri Krishna Mutt here, dedicated to Lord Krishna, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, has been known to feed the devotees since hundreds of years, every day. As the food served here is treated as the divine Prasadam of the Lord, every visitor to the temple craves to be the beneficiary of the Lord’s grace, by partaking of the Prasadam here.

The tradition of providing food to the visitors has been preserved in Sri Krishna Mutt, since the times of Sri Madhwacharya. From the day on which the idol of Lord Krishna was consecrated here, Sri Madhwacharya had laid down the rule that at least a mura of rice is cooked every day at the temple for the devotees. This practice is going even today, and the food is offered to every visitor, without any differentiation on the basis of caste, creed, religion, etc.

A legendary wooden vessel, known as ‘Akshayapatre (inexhaustible vessel)’ and a silver ladle with certain hymns carved on it, has been handed down since ages, through the Swamijies heading the Paryaya periods.  This vessel and ladle are considered holy, and it is believed that their regular worship and placing them on the heaps of cooked rice on special occasions when the crowd is exceptionally large, ensures that the cooked items are never in short supply. Transfer of these items is one of the important aspects of the Paryaya celebrations.

Since ages, Sri Krishna Mutt is identified with serving of food to the visitors, as this is exactly the reason why the ‘Akki Muhoorta’ and ‘Bhatta Muhoorta’ are performed before the new Swamiji takes over charge of the Mutt from the outgoing one. Feeding of food to devotees is considered equivalent to serving the Lord himself! The temple also serves lunch to thousands of students belonging to a number of schools spread over the twin-districts, through its ‘Sri Krishna Prasada’ scheme.

A huge dining hall (Bhojanashala) named ‘Annabrahma’, is being built in Udupi with the efforts of  Paryaya Puttige Swamiji, Sri sugunendrateertha. Two units, named ‘Annadhrama’ and Annabrahma’ are coming up in the vicinity of the Goshaala. These multi-storied buildings, being built at a cost of several crores of rupees, cover an area of over 18,000 square feet, where 1,500 devotees can be served at a time. The upper storey is built in Yaali style of Kerala, with Laka red stones from Gujarat and marble slabs from Rajastan. The lower floor has ornamental wooden ceiling as per the traditional Tulunadu style, with slabs finished in antique style.

Two separate dining rooms for the special guests, that are being built, are also well-equipped. A lift with a capacity to carry eight persons at a time has been provided for the devotees to reach upstairs. Yet another lift attached to the kitchen can carry foodstuff weighing two tonnes. About 3,000 tonnes of firewood is needed every month for cooking. A separate room has been provided to store the firewood. A scientifically designed system has been put in place in both the stories to dispose off the used plantain leaves. 

On one of the walls of Annabrahma is an enchanting picture depicting Acharya Madhwa carrying the idol of Shrikrishna from under the sea. Yet another picture adorning the wall shows infant Krishna savouring butter from the Akshaya Paatre.

Through ‘Annabrahma’, the long-cherished dream of Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji is coming true during his third Paryaya period.

State Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, who will be in the city on Sunday November 29 to open the road between Adi Udupi and Kadiyali for traffic and also to open the Kalsanka Bridge on this road, will inaugurate the ‘Annabrahma’ building at about 9.20 am. Tourism minister, Janardan Reddy, too is expected to take part in the inaugural of the dining hall. Home minister, Dr V S Acharya, MLA K Raghupati Bhat and many other dignitaries will take part in this function.