Last Friday, (January, 18), marked the observance of Paryaya in the temple town of Udupi in south India. Over 700 years ago Shri Madhvacharya, the chief proponent of the Tattvavada or Dwaita school of Vedanta and one of the important philosophers of the bhakti movement, established the Ashta-Mathas (eight monasteries) of Udupi. The heads of these mathas, each of which can trace their lineage back to one of a group of eight original heads appointed by Shri Madhvacharya himself, rotate the responsibility of the care of the Sri Krishna Temple. The formal ceremony marking the “changing of the guard” is called Paryaya. This rotation takes place once every two years. Last Friday the puja and care of the temple was handed over to Puttige Matha seer Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji. Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji’s accession was not without controversy, as he becomes the first head of the Sri Krishna Temple to have traveled outside of India. More information can be found by following the links below.
Kaustubha das
Paryaya is My Right: Puttige Swamiji (from Udayavani)
Several Schemes to be Launched During Puttige Math Paryaya (from Udayavani)
Photos and more links (from The Mangalorean)
Photo by Rajesh Shetty