Udupi : Pejawar Mutt seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swami was given a rousing civic reception by the citizens of the temple town on his ‘Pura Pravesha’ at Jodukatte here on Monday.

The seer is ascending the ‘Paryaya Peetha’ on January 18 for the record fifth time to conduct the Puja rituals of Lord Sri Krishna at the famed Sri Krishna Temple and run the temple administration for the next two years under biennial ‘Paryaya’ system among the seers of ‘Ashta Mutts’ (Eight mutts of Udupi), introduced by Saint Sri Vadiraja Swami,

He was welcomed by several dignitaries, including District In-Charge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, MP Shobha Karandlaje, MLA Pramodh Madhwaraj, BJP leaders Tingalay Vikramarjuna Hegde, Raghupathy Bhat and others.

The seer was later led in a colourful procession, accompanied by chanting of Vedic and religious hymns. Junior pontiff Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swami accompanied him on the occasion.

The seer is ascending the Paryaya Peetha as per the the customs and practices laid down by Sri Vadiraja Swami of Sri Sode Vadiraja Mutt that the incumbent pontiff should have completed the pilgrimage visiting important temples in the country, and seek the blessings of the presiding deities of those temples and invite the devotees to visit Udupi during his term of Paryaya as he cannot move out of temple premises for two years after ascending the Paryaya Peetha. He has to restrict his activities around the temple.

The grand welcome comprising 72 tableaus and artifacts, including the chariot of the seers, were centres of attraction of the procession. The seers were accorded a majestic greeting to the temple town. More than 5,000 artistes were part of the procession.

The tableaus and artifacts included ‘Beerudavali from mutt, Sri Lanka and Manipur’, ‘Bhajan teams’, ‘Dollu Kunitha’, ‘Poothani’, ‘Yakshagana’, ‘Atikalanja’, ‘Keelukudure’, ‘Goravara, Somana and Kangilu Kunitha’, ‘Hulivesha’, ‘ Veeragase’, ‘Kaladka’, ‘Theyyam’, ‘Dappu’, ‘Banjara’, ‘Marakalu’, ‘Kumba Kalasa’, ‘Nadaswara’, ‘Konchadi’, ‘Dollu Kunitha’, ‘Hagaluvesha’, ‘’Panchavadya from Kerala’, ‘Veeragase’, Dragon’, ‘traditional attires from Bagalkot, Viajaypura and Mysuru, ‘Navilu Nritya’, ‘Tulunadu Vadya’, ‘Halakki Kunitha’, ‘Koraga Band’, ‘Thattiraya’, ‘Punda Challam dance from Manipur’, ‘Kamsale’, ‘Nagari’, ‘Dudi Kunitha’, ‘Bendara Kunitha’, ‘Pravanthike’, ‘Saxaphone’, ‘Kode’, ‘Skating’ and tableaux comprising various folk troupes.

The seer was later taken in a beautifully decorated chariot after performing the ritual at Jodukatte, the traditional entrance point of the temple town. The statue of “Pattada Devaru (presiding deity) Lord Rama” was taken in a decorated golden palanquin which led the seer’s chariot.

The seer, on entering the Car Street, offered prayers the old Sri Anantheshwara and Sri Chandramouleshwara temples. He prayed for the success of his two-year term Paryaya. The seer later visited the Sri Krishna Temple and he performed special Pujas to both the presiding deity Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana (Lord Anjaneya).

He was greeted by the outgoing Paryaya seer Sri Vidyavallabha Theertha Swami of Kaniyur mutt whose Paryaya term will end on January 17. Later, a civic public function was held where the incumbent seer was felicitated by the President of Udupi City Municipal Council and other organisations.