Mangaluru: Kadali Shri Yogeshwara (Jogi) Math held a press meet at the Goraksha Hall near Kadri Park regarding anointing of the new Peetadhipati (‘Raja’) to Yogeshwara (Jogi) Math here, on February 22.
Raja elect Shri Shri Nirmalnath ji
Speaking to the mediapersons, Dr P Keshavanath said, “The anointing ceremony of the new ‘Raja’of Kadali Yogeshwar (Jogi) Math will take place at 9:25 AM in the Math premises on March 7.” Known as ‘Paryaya Raja Pattabhisheka’, the ceremony is held once every 12 years. By tradition, the Raja is elected in Triambakeshwar (Nashik) during the Kumbha Mela. Seers belonging to the 12 sects of the Nath Panth (Nateshwari, Ganganath, Kaplani, Bairagi, Sathyanath, Ayi, Dhariyanath, Ramanath, Kanhadi, Maan-nath, Pagal and Dwaja) elect the new ‘Raja’ in the presence of the President and Vice-President of ‘Akhila Bharath Varshiya Awadhuth Yogi Maha Sabha Bhek Bharaha Panth’, the organization that regulates the affairs of the different Nath Panth Maths in India. Only seers of Nateshwari, Ganganath, Kaplani and Bairagi sects are eligible to get elected as ‘Rajas’ of Kadali Math. Thus, each sect gets its turn after 48 years. The new ‘Raja’ belongs to the Bairagi sect.
He further said that Yogeshwar (Jogi) Math which is located at Kadri hill top has a rich history of nearly 1000 years. This is the most important Nath Panth center in southern India. It is believed that Parashurama sat in penance at this place. ‘Parashurama Kunda’ at the Math in which fire burns continuously signifies it. The forest surrounding the Math is called ‘Kadali Vana’, a place where tombs of pontiffs who headed the Math earlier can be seen. Among these, the live ‘Samadhi’ of Sidda Guru Jwalanath is prominent. It is opined that seers attained ‘Mukti’ here and hence it is also known as ‘Mukti Vana’.
Matseyndranath and Gorakshanath are the founders of Nath Panth, a guru-shishya tradition that preaches attaining ‘Mukti’ through yoga. This tradition has spread throughout India and neighboring countries, mainly Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. A great deal of information about Nath Panth is available in the book ‘Gorakshanatha and Kanpata Yogis’ written by G W Briggs, first published in 1938 in Kolkata.
Accompanied by a troupe of more than 500 seers, the ‘Raja’ elected during Kumbha Mela traverses a distance of more than 1100 km from Nashik to Mangaluru by foot (Navanath Zhundi Yatra), which takes about 6 months. The ‘Raja’ carries with him the ‘Patra Devata’ which is worshipped by him not only through the Zhundi Yatra, but also during his tenure of 12 years as Peetadhipati of Kadali Math. Zhundi Yatra starts on the day of Nagara Panchami from Nashik and reaches Kadali Math about 10 days prior to Shivarathri. During this period, the Zhundi halts at 91 places, including 17 Maths. In the Kumbha Mela of 2015, Yogi Shri Shri Nirmalnath has been elected as the new ‘Raja’ of Kadali Math. The Zhundi consisting of him and other seers will enter the city of Mangaluru at Kottara Chowki on February 26 at 7.00 AM. The Zundi will pass through Kottara-Urva Store-Lady Hill-Kudroli-Car Street-Hampankatta-PVS-Bunts Hostel-Mallikatta-Kadri Manjunatha Temple and reach Yogeshwar Math. On the day of anointing, Veda Moorthi Sri Vittal Das Tanthri will lead the performance of Vaidik rituals.
Among the seers of the Zhundi are ‘Hatayogis’, professionals (3 Engineers and 2 Doctors) and 19 postgraduates. Yogi Rajendranath has been practicing Hatayoga for the past 15 years in standing posture.
Several cultural and spiritual programmes are slated to be held at the Math premises every evening from February 26 to March 7. ‘Hore Kanike’ procession led by Sri Vinayananda in the presence of temple trustee Sri Ramanath Hegde, will leave from Mangaladevi temple at 3.30 PM on February 28 and reach Kadali Math via Kankanady – Mallikatta – Kadri Manjunath temple.
Kadali Yogeshwar Math Peetadhipati has an important role in all the festivals of Kadri Manjunatha Temple. On the day of Car Festival, he leads on a horse in front of the chariot, a practice that has come from the time of Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath, who were responsible for the establishment of the Temple. They were also responsible for the establishment of Mangaladevi Temple. A day before the start of the annual festival of Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Peetadhipati of Yogeshwar Math offers prayer at Mangaladevi Temple seeking her blessings for the smooth running of the annual festival.
The practice of Navanath Zundhi visiting Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple and Car Street Venkatramana Temple on its way to Kadali Yogeshwar Math indicates a clear link of Nath Panth with these two temples. It is known that Shri Veera Venkatesha idol established in Venkatramana temple in 1804 was given by a Nath Panth seer.
H K Purushotham, Kiran Kumar Jogi, M Ramachandra, Satish Kumar Jogi, B Gangadhar, K Suresh and K Padmanabha were also present.