Udupi, August 21, 2013: The Palimar Math, one of the ‘Ashta Maths’ or eight maths of Udupi, intends to install a 32-feet monolithic statue of Sri Madhwacharya, the exponent of Dwaita philosophy on top of Kunjargiri hill, about 11 km from Udupi.

Balaram Bhat, Manager of Palimar Math, told presspersons on Monday that this is an ambitious project of Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swamiji of Palimar Math. To realize this project, a 40-feet long monolithic rock was chosen from a quarry at Doddaballapura.

Though originally this stone structure was 300 tonnes, its size had been reduced to 180 tonnes. This huge stone structure is being is being transported on a truck with three trailers comprising a total of 120 wheels from Doddaballapura. It began its journey from Doddaballapura on July 29, and passed through Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davangere, Hubli, Yallapura, Ankola, Bhatkal, and Kundapur.

This truck carrying the stone structure will arrive at Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple at Kumbhashi village in Udupi district around 10 a.m. on August 21. At 3 p.m., the truck will reach Karavali Junction in Udupi. It would be taken in a vehicle procession — under the leadership of Vishwapriya Tirtha Swamiji of Admar Math from Subash Nagara — from Karavali Junction to Subash Nagara in Katapady village. The stone structure would later be shifted to Kunjargiri hill.

An eight-feet-high and 80-tonne ‘peetha’ is being prepared at Kunjargiri hill. The monolith statute, after being sculpted, would be installed on this ‘peetha’. The cost of the entire project is estimated at Rs. 1.5 crore.

The statue would be sculpted by national award winning sculptor Ashok Gudigar. The statue would be sculpted as per the rules laid down in “Tantrasara” text written by Sri Madhwacharya.

Sri Madhwacharya was born in Pajaka Kshetra about 14 km from Udupi. He spent his childhood at Kunjargiri. It is at this place an 80-tonne “peetha” is being created and is in final stages.

“We expect the work on the statue to be completed in six to eight months. We want the work to be perfect. Hence, we will not hurry. As many as 20 sculptors would work under Mr. Gudigar’s guidance. The 180-tonne rock is a type of granite,” Mr. Bhat said.

Source: The Hindu, August 21, 2013