Udupi : The ritual ‘Kattige Muhurtha’ (storing of firewood) was performed by the priests of Sri Palimaru mutt in the absence of the seer Sri Vidyadheesha Theertha Swami in the midst of chanting of ‘Vishnu Sahsranama’ and ‘Veda Sthothras’ on Sunday.

The ritual was performed in the presence of the Palimaru Mutt Deewan Shibaruru Vedavyasa Tantri and temple administrator Balarama Bhat. It is the third leg of preparation for the biennial Paryaya at Sri Krishna Mutt as the Palimaru Mutt seer will ascend the sacred Paryaya throne on January 18, 2018.

The seer has performed ‘Bale Muhurtha’ (planting banana saplings) and ‘Akki Muhurtha’ (storing rice). The preparation for main Paryaya festival ends with the seer performing the fourth leg, ‘Bhattha Muhurtha’ (storing paddy).

Prayers were offered to Anantheshwara, Chandramouleshwara and at Sri Krishna temple. The firewood cart, initiated by the Sri Krishna temple traditional masonVittala Mestri, carried by the people from Palimaru mutt to the backyard of Sri Krishna Mutt where the firewood is piled up artistically like a cart.

The stored firewood is utilised by the Paryaya Mutt during their two-year Paryaya period.

Sri Vadiraja seer who introduced the practice of biennial Paryaya system in place of two month Paryaya term also put forth the tradition of ‘Kattige Ratha’ (cart of firewood) which came into existence about 500 years ago. The cart can hold around 120 tonnes of firewood which will be sufficient to serve food for the devotees for two years of Paryaya.