Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, May 9: Various rituals and religious procedures connected with the consecration of newly carved monolithic statue of reverred preacher, Madhwacharya, at Durga Betta in Kunjarugiri near Kaup in the tlauk were held on Monday May 8. The decision to install the statue of the celebrated Acharya had been undertaken by Sri Vidyadheeshateertha Swamiji of Palimar Math here.
The presence of Sri Subudhendrateertha Swamiji, spiritual head of Raghavendra Swamy Math at Mantralaya added additional touch of holiness to the programme. Sri Vishwapriyateertha Swamiji of Admar Math performed religious procedures in detail connected with the consecration under the guidance of Sri Vidyadheeshateertha Swamiji.
Divinity and spiritual radiance were invoked on the statue of Madhwacharya by installing a small statue of Madhwacharya in the pedestal specially created near the larger statue, duly following elaborate rituals. Thereafter, religious anointment of the statue with liquids and offering of flowers were performed.
Sri Vidyatmateertha Swamiji of Madhwa Math at Prayag, Sri Keshavanidhiteertha Swamiji of Mulabagilu Math, junior Swamiji of Admar Math, Sri Eshapriyateertha Swamiji, Sri Vishwanandanateertha Swamiji of Madhwa Math at Honasoge, and Sri Raghavendrateertha Swamiji of Bannanje Math were present.
A religious meeting with the presence of heads of various Maths was convened after the conclusion of religious programme, in which benedictory address was delivered. In his address, Sri Subudendrateertha Swamiji said that installation of Madhwacharya's idol happens to be one of the historic celebrations in Madhwa heritage. "This programme is being held in the area that is fortified with divinity on account of the fact that Madhwacharya was born and brought up in this area. The installation of Madhwacharya's statue has gained more meaning because of the fact that it has been consecrated in Parashurama Hill which resembles the divine matter, and the abode of Goddess Durga, who is affectionate of Vedas. Vedas are the only means which help one to realize the Lord," he added.
The Swamiji also recalled his association with the previous head of Palimar Math who had recited the work of Raghavendrateertha, and the current head of this Math. He also expressed happiness at the timing of installation of the statue which has coincided with the installation of Lord Anjaneya's statue at Haridwar. He wished that Palimar Swamiji will next undertake installation of the statue of Bheema.
In his benedictory address, Sri Vidyadheeshateertha Swamiji said that Madhwacharya is a personality of global stature, and his preaching has the capacity to guide the world on the right path. "The world needs rain, cultivation, prosperity. When our minds and homes are occupied by divine thoughts, everything will automatically turn prosperous," he analyzed.
President of Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, addressing the gathering, said that the entire world looks up to India because of its rich culture, heritage and a number of visionaries and personalities like Madhwacharya who were born in India and contributed to the spiritual elevation of the country. He felt that people in positions of power should bring pressure on the central government to spread the greatness of Madhwacharya all over the world to commemorate 700 years of Madhwacharya's entry into Badarikashram. He felt that a train moving between Delhi and coast can be named after Madhwacharya towards this end, and a postal stamp in his memory can be released.
A number of dignitaries were felicitated on the occasion. Venkatesh Acharya Koralahalli was the host of the programme. He also proposed vote of thanks.
Mahamastakabhisheka (ceremonial bath) of the statue of Madhwacharya is scheduled to be held on the morning of May 10.
Madhwacharya, Pivot of Udupi, Memorialised through his Giant Statue
By John B Monteiro
Sri Madhwacharya, the pivot of the temple city of Udupi, was memorialized through a giant stone statue which was inaugurated on May 8. He has a colorful history which the younger generation of today is unlikely to be aware. But before we come to this, a short account of the giant stone statue of his, set to be inaugurated on May 8, 2017, excerpted from The Hindu (2/5/17) is relevant.
The installation ceremony of the 32-ft tall statue of the exponent of Dwaita philosophy, Sri Madhwacharya, installed on a concrete structure at the bottom of the Kunjargiri hillock, about 11 km from Udupi, was held from May 8 to 10 on Monday. The work of sculpting the statue, which started in August 2013, when a 180-tonne grey granite monolith rock was brought from a quarry in Devanahalli village, near Bengaluru, was completed at Kunjargiri hillock in January 2017. Besides the statue, an eight feet high “panipeetha” on which the statue has been installed, too, has been sculpted. The statue, along with the “panipeetha”, sits on a concrete structure of 40 ft high constructed at the bottom of the hillock. The statue, thus, stands 140 ft above the ground.
The religious function connected to the installation would begin at 4 p.m. on May 7 with a procession from Pajaka, birthplace of Sri Madhwacharya, (about 2 km from Kunjargiri), to Kunjargiri.
There will be a special anointment of the statue from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on May 8. The statue would be consecrated as per religious rituals at 10.46 a.m. on the same day. “Brahmabhisheka” for the statue will be performed from 7.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 10. A special “Madhwa Deepotsava” will be held at 6 p.m. on the same day. The “pratishtapana mahotsava” is coinciding with the 700th anniversary of Sri Madhwacharya (1238-1317) leaving for Badri in the Himalayas and making his exit after completing his spiritual journey in Udupi.
Udupi, now a district headquarters town, 60 KM north of Mangalore along the coast, is more known as the temple town of Tulu Nadu, attracting thousands of pilgrims throughout the year. The temple complex is a town within a town, with narrow passages leading to the sanctum sanctorum and other cavernous structures like the dining hall. The temple traces its roots back to many centuries, but it came into prominence after Sri Madhwacharya established a temple to Lord Krishna and set up eight Maths there to promote his worship.
Udupi, also spelt Udipi, has now spread its fame for its export of culinary delights to all over India and beyond through the Shettys and Kamaths of Tulu Nadu. Udupi has now become a generic name in the catering business. But it was also called Rupya Pitha (Silver Seat) as also Rajatha Pithapura (City of Silver Throne). Udupi itself is derived from Udu (star) and Pa (Lord), making it Udupa, thus becoming the residence of Shiva who wears the crescent moon.
There is an ancient temple dedicated to Chandramauleeshwara. This temple as also another temple, Anantheshwara, pre-dates Shri Krishna Temple. Custom and tradition is that one first goes to Shiva’s temple in the east for worship and then to the west to pray to Anantheshwara. The Anantheshwara Temple is reputed as a seat of learning for the study of Veda, Vedantha and Upanishads. This is where Sri Madhwacharya is said to have obtained lessons from his Guru, Sri Achuthaprekshacharya.
Incidentally, the confusion about Udupi and Udipi was officially settled through unanimous resolution of the Municipal Council in 1980 in favour of Udupi.
Some hold that Udupi derives its name from Udupam, meaning a boat. The boat association is centred on the Shri Krishna idol installed in the temple in Udupi. Once Sri Madhwacharya was meditating on the shore of the sea near Malpe when a storm broke out. A sailing ship got caught in the storm and was about to capsize. Sri Madhwacharya took his angavasthra and held it aloft in the wind to indicate to the ship’s captain that land was close by. The storm abated and the ship was safely steered to the shore.
A grateful captain offered to the seer anything that he chose from the ship’s contents. He opted for a large slab of Gopi-chandan, a special kind of aromatic earth used frequently by Brahmins to decorate their bodies with caste marks. The slab was taken to Udupi and washed down in the Madhwasarovara. On peeling the layers of Gopi-chandan covering, they found the idol which is the centre of worship in Shri Krishna Temple ever since.
Another version of the incident would have us believe that the ship caught in the storm sank with all its crew drowned. But the slab of Gopi-chandan which enclosed the Shri Krishna idol floated ashore and Sri Madhwacharya brought it to Udupi and had the idol extracted and installed.
Whatever the truth, Udupi is famous for its Shri Krishna Temple and the place where the idol was found is now called Vadabhandishwar, a corruption of Vadapandishwar – Vada (broken) Pandi (boat) Ishwar (Lord).
The idol represents Lord Krishna in his playful childhood posture with a curd-churning rod in the right hand and the churning rope in the left. Thus, Lord Krishna came to be worshipped by Sri Madhwacharya and later by pontiffs of Ashta Maths founded by him. The right of touching and worshipping this idol rests with the pontiffs of these eight Maths who are the only spiritual descendents of Sri Madhwacharya.
(The Swamijis of the eight Maths conduct the worship of the Shri Krishna Math by turns – for two years each. This tenure of worship by rotation is known as paryaya. The biennial transfer of the privilege of worship from one Math to another is celebrated as a grand festival called paryaya festival. The outgoing Swamiji hands over to the incoming Swamiji the keys of Shri Krishna Math and the Akshaya Pathra – a vessel given by Sri Madhwacharya to the temple for the sake of never-ending annadhana or mass feeding. Other places of interest in the temple complex are Kanakana Kindi and Madhwasarovara which have interesting history of their own. But we have to skip them for reasons of space here.)