Udupi : The Pejawar Mutt performed the “Akki Muhurta”, the second of the major preliminaries before the next Paryaya festival, here on Wednesday February 11.

Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt would ascend the “Paryaya Peetha” also called the “Sarvajna Peetha” at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple, established by Sri Madhwacharya, the exponent of Dwaita philosophy. It will be his fifth Paryaya.

No seer of the eight mutts or Ashta Mutts of Udupi has ascended the Paryaya Peetha more than four times since the biennial Paryaya system came into existence in 1522.

Elaborate rituals marked the “Akki Muhurta.” The rituals began with offering prayers to Lord Rama Vittala at Pejawar Mutt by Vishwesha Tirtha Swami and Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, junior seer of the Mutt. Then the representatives of the Pejawar Mutt went in a procession on the Car Street and visited the Sri Chandramouleshwara Temple, Sri Ananteshwara Temple and Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple offered their prayers at these temples.

Later, a small decorated rice “murra” was placed in a golden palanquin from Pejawar Mutt and taken in procession on the Car Street. As many as four devotees carried four rice “murras” on their heads and participated in the procession. The procession once again went around the Car Street and culminated at the Pejawar Mutt.

Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Kaniyur Mutt, Vidyasagara Tirtha of Krishnapur Mutt, Vishwavallabha Tirtha of Sode Mutt, Vidyadheesha Tirtha of Palimar Mutt, Ishapriya Tirtha, junior seer of Admar Mutt, Lakshmivara Tirtha of Shiroor Mutt and Sugunendra Tirtha of Puttige Mutt, also participated in the rituals of the “Akki Muhurta”.

Later, speaking to presspersons, Vishwesha Tirtha said that he would give importance of developmental works around the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple during his fifth Paryaya.