Akki Muhurtha

Shri Krishnapura Matha performs Akki Muhurtha in Udupi

Shri Krishnapura Matha in Udupi performed Akki Muhurtha, a pre-Paryaya ritual, for its Paryaya scheduled next year, in Udupi on Wednesday, February 18 2021. Seer of the Matha Shri Shri Vidyasagaratheertha Swamiji led the rituals. Vidyasagaratheertha, who is the senior most Swamiji’s among those of the Ashta Mathas, will ascend the Paryaya Peetha for the fourth time on January 18, 2022.

Akki Muhurtha marks the collection of rice from devotees for the mass feeding at Shri Krishna Matha during the Paryaya period for two years.

The seer said that some of the schemes introduced by his predecessor will be continued during his term as Paryaya swamiji. Seer of Pejawar mutt Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, who was present on the occasion, said that Akki Muhurtha symbolises the birth of new life and salvation.

Shri Krishnapura Matha performs Kattige Muhurtha ahead of Paryaya

The ritual signifies the start of storing firewood in the shape and style of chariot ,for mass feeding during the two years of Paryaya. This ritualistic ceremony is an age-old practice being followed by each of the Astha Mathas of Udupi prior to the taking over the reins of next Paryaya. Shri Krishnapura Matha performed the Baale (plantain) Muhurta in December 2020, to get banana fruits for pooja and plantain leaves for mass feeding, followed by Akki (rice) Muhurtha, the process of storing rice for mass feeding, in February 2021.

The firewood chariot/Kattige Ratha is erected on the north-eastern side of the Madhwa Sarovara.

The main Purohitha of Sri Krishnapura Matha Sri Srinivasa Upadhyaya earlier performing special poojas of presiding deities of Shri Krishnapura Matha Kaliyamardana Shri Krishna and to Shri Narasimha Devaru and Navagraha pooja. Thereafter people carrying firewood on their head and have darshan of Shri Chandramouleeshwara and Shri Anantheshwara before arriving at the Kattige Muhurtha site. After performing pooja to the piled firewood, on behalf of Shri Krishnapura Matha, the scholars of the Ashta Mathas will be felicitated in the occasion. The pooja will be performed with the assistance of Naveen Mesthri.

Thereafter a formal function will be held at Sri Krishnapura Matha, Shri Shri Vidyasagara theertha Swamiji this precedent is laid down by Sri Vadiraja teertha Swamiji of Shri Sode Matha are being followed by the Ashtha Mathas since long time, even till now. The unique system involves poojas to the Almighty not only at the sanctum/ sanatorium of the temple but also at every Adhishtana.

Tracing the history of Kashta Muhurtha (Kattige Muhurtha), the seer said that people had no jobs during the rainy season in the olden days, so the process of storing firewood during the rainy season will provide employment to people few months before Paryaya and one “ Seru” (a unit of measurement) of rice was given as remuneration for one bunch of firewood, at that time.