Vidya Rajeshwara Theertha Anointed as junior Swamiji of Palimar Math
Udupi: Sri Vidyadeesha Theertha Swamiji of Palimar Math on Sunday, May 12 anointed the junior Swamiji of the math. Palimar Math is one of the eight Maths or the Ashta Maths of Udupi.
Various rituals, including ‘Pattabhishekha’, were conducted amidst chanting of mantras at the Sarvajna Peeta of Sri Krishna Math. All the rituals took place under the guidance of Sri Vidyadeesha Theertha Swamiji. Vidya Rajeshwara Theertha Swamiji will study ‘Shastras’ under the guidance of Vidyadheesha Theertha Swamiji.
Sri Vishvesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Vishwa Prasanna Theertha Junior Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji of Sode Math, Sri Vidyavallabha Theertha Swamiji of Kaniyoor Math, Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji of Krishnapura Math, Sri Vidya Prasanna Theertha Swamiji of Subramanya Math were present. A large number of devotees had come to witness the event.
The ‘Purvashrama’ name of Vidya Rajeshwara Theertha Swamiji was Shailesh Upadhyaya. Shailesh Upadhyaya, 20, is the eldest son of Surendra Upadhyaya, a priest and Lakshmi Upadhyaya. His younger brother is studying Ayurveda course in Manipal.
Shailesh studied up to Class 10 in a Sanskrit school before joining the Yogadeepika Gurukula and is studying ‘Tharka, Veda and ‘Vyakarana.’
The Ashta Maths are a group of eight Maths or Hindu monasteries established by 13th-century philosopher Madhwacharya.
Madhwacharya, who founded the ‘Dvaita’ (dualism) school of Vedanta, had appointed eight of his direct disciples as head of each Math that were established in eight villages around the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple.
During the Paryaya, a religious ritual takes place every alternate year, the puja and administration of Sri Krishna Temple is vested with the Swamijis of the Ashta Maths in turns.