Udipi, July 15, 2013: The Kaniyur Math performed the “Kattige Muhurta”, the third of the preliminaries before the next Paryaya, here on Sunday.

Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swami of Kaniyur Math will ascend the “Paryaya Peetha”, also known as the “Sarvajna Peetha”, at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Math/Temple here on January 18, 2014. It will be his second Paryaya.

Elaborate rituals marked the “Kattige Muhurta”. After offering prayers at the Kaniyur Math, devotees took out a procession from the Math. Workers carrying loads of firewood accompanied them. They offered prayers at the Sri Chandramouleshwara Temple and Sri Ananteshwara Temple.

The procession then entered the Sri Krishna Math/Temple, where prayers were offered to Lord Krishna, Lord Mukhyaprana (Hanuman), and at the “Simhasanashale” and “Vrindavana”. The group proceeded through the Car Street to the Eastern side of the temple near “Madhwa Sarovara” pond, where the firewood will be stored in the shape of a “ratha” or a chariot. Rituals were performed before beginning construction of the firewood chariot. The representatives of other seven of the “Ashta” or eight maths were given “navagraha danas” as per tradition.

Venugopal Rao, representative of Kaniyur Math, said it would take at least four months for the firewood to be arranged in the shape of a chariot. As many as 25 “truckloads” of firewood would go into the making of the “Kattige Ratha” or firewood chariot.

Nearly 25 workers would work for the next four months to build the “Kattige Ratha”. The firewood chariot should get ready prior to the fourth and the last preliminary called “Bhatta Muhurta” or “Dhanya Muhurta”.

The “Bhatta Muhurta” would be held in the month of November. During the “Bhatta Muhurta”, a “shikara” or “kalasha” would be placed atop the firewood chariot. The height of the firewood chariot would be approximately 25 feet, Mr. Rao said.

H.K. Sureshacharya, Principal of SMSP Sanskrit College, said a lot of firewood is required to cook food for the large number of devotees visiting the temple. Hence firewood is collected in massive quantities to meet this requirement, he said.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 15, 2013.