Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jan 17: The Paryaya Welcome Committee, Udupi, on Saturday organised a civic felicitation programme in honour of the outgoing Paryaya seer of Sri Puttige Math, Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, at the Poorna Prajna Vedike on Car Street (Ratha Beedi), as part of the Paryaya Mahotsava celebrations.
The programme marked the successful completion of the fourth Paryaya tenure of Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji. On the occasion, the Welcome Committee honoured both Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji and Sri Sushreendra Theertha Swamiji of Sri Puttige Math for their exemplary leadership, devotion and dedicated service during the two-year Paryaya period.
After receiving the civic honour, Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji said that many visitors, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had experienced a special spiritual vibration at the Udupi Sri Krishna Math. He attributed this to the divine nature of the idol, stating that it was sculpted by God and worshipped by Goddess Lakshmi.
“Just as a photograph gains value when signed by a great personality, an idol created by God and revered by Lakshmi Devi holds immense sanctity. I have worshipped Lord Krishna at every stage of my life — as a child, a youth, an adult and now in old age — and it would be my greatest blessing to continue performing pooja even in my eighties,” he said.
Referring to the 800-year-old Paryaya tradition, the Swamiji noted that both pontiffs jointly take the oath and conduct the Paryaya. “During the Puttige Paryaya, both I and my junior pontiff performed daily worship without fail. The people of Udupi are wise and united because they worship Lord Sri Krishna, and irrespective of the taluk they live in, they proudly identify themselves first as being from Udupi,” he added.
MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty said Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji had taken the Math’s legacy to the international level and had mobilised funds from abroad, which were utilised to establish new Maths and to develop existing institutions.
Dr Shanmuga Hebbar of the Sanskrit College said that the Swamiji never sent anyone away empty-handed and never hurt anyone, either intentionally or inadvertently. “He is not only Sugunendra Theertha but also ‘Namakarana Theertha’, as he lovingly named children without expecting anything in return. Having completed four Paryayas, Swamiji performed pooja to Lord Sri Krishna with pure devotion and without any personal desire,” he said.
The programme began with Veda ghosha rendered by Vidhwan Sudarsh R Bhat and his team. Mattar Rathnakar Hegde, Secretary of the Paryaya Welcome Committee, welcomed the gathering, while Suprasad Shetty compered the event.
Sri Sushreendra Theertha Swamiji, junior pontiff of Sri Puttige Math; MLA Yashpal Suvarna, president of the Paryaya Welcome Committee; Mahantesh Hangaragi, commissioner of Udupi Municipality; Dinakar Heroor, president of the Udupi Urban Development Authority; Prabhakar Poojary, former president of the Udupi City Municipal Council; Indrali Jayakar Shetty, president of the Badagabettu Credit Cooperative Society; and Jayaprakash Kedlayaru, treasurer of the Welcome Committee, were present.