Udupi: Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami of Palimar Mutt ascended the ‘Paryaya Peetha’, also called the ‘Sarvajna Peetha’, at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple here on Thursday. It will be his second Paryaya.

The Palimar seer’s ascension gives him the right to worship Lord Krishna and manage the affairs of the mutt/temple for the next two years. The idol of Lord Krishna was installed at the temple by exponent of Dvaita philosophy Sri Madhwacharaya about 800 years ago. The seers of the Ashta mutts propagate this philosophy.

Pomp and gaiety marked the ascension ceremony. Vidyadheesha Tirtha went to Danda Tirtha near Kaup, about 12 km from Udupi, and had a holy dip there at 2 a.m. He arrived at Jodu Katte at 3 a.m. and was welcomed by a large number of devotees. A grand procession began from Jodu Katte at 3.40 a.m. Over 15 tableaux and 60 cultural troupes took part in the Paryaya procession.

The devotees carried the presiding deity of Palimar Mutt – Hanumath Lakshmana Sita with Sri Ramachandra — in a palanquin. The seers of the Ashta mutts sat in palanquins and followed the chief deity, with Vidyadheesha Tirtha leading the way.

They included Vidyasagara Tirtha Swami of Krishnapur Mutt, Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Mutt, Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swami of Kaniyur Mutt, Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swami of Sode Mutt, and Ishapriya Tirtha, junior seer of Admar Mutt.

The procession passed through the Taluk Office Road, Court Road, Diana Circle and Kavi Muddana Road before culminating at Car Street. After having a darshan of Lord Krishna through the ‘Kanakadasa Kindi’, the Palimar seer offered prayers at the Chandramouleshwara and Ananteshwara temples.

He then came to the entrance of Sri Krishna Temple, where he was welcomed by the outgoing Paryaya seer Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt.

Both the seers entered the temple and offered prayers to Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman. Then Vishwesha Tirtha, who had just completed a record fifth Paryaya, handed over the ‘Akshaya patre’ and ‘sattuga’ (vessel and ladle dating back to the times of Sri Madhwacharya) and the keys to the sanctum sanctorum to Vidyadheesha Tirtha, marking the formal transfer of authority from one mutt to another.

Vidyadheesha Tirtha ascended the Paryaya Peetha at 6.35 a.m. The seers of the other Ashta mutts were felicitated at ‘Badagu Malige’. All the seers then proceeded to participate in the ‘Paryaya Durbar’ function at Rajangana, which was witnessed by a large number of devotees.