The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Samarpana' rituals of `Kanaka Gopura' begin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Samarpana' rituals of `Kanaka Gopura' begin

Staff Correspondent

UDUPI: The rituals connected with `samarpana' of the `Kanaka Gopura' in front of the `Kanakana Kindi" began at Sri Krishna Temple here on Tuesday.

No formal programme was held to mark the occasion. It was a purely religious function. Sri Vishwapriya Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Admar Mutt and other swamijis of the Ashta Mutts were present.

According to the Diwan of the Paryaya Admar Mutt, Venkataramana Muchinthaya, `samarpana' function was like a `griha pravesha' (house- warming) ceremony.

Car festival

The `rathotsava' (car festival) in connection with the `samarpana' function will be held on Wednesday morning, he said.

The construction of `Kanaka Gopura' began on August 19, 2004, after dismantling the old `gopura.'

The foundation stone for the `Kanaka Gopura' was laid by Sri Vidyasagara Tirtha Swamiji of Sri Krishnapur Mutt.

The Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, K.H. Muniyappa, was present on the occasion.

The dismantling work of the old gopura was taken up on August 12, 2004.

The new gopura is five-storeyed. Each tier has beautiful idols on it. The idols include those of `Dashavatara.'

The dismantling of the old `gopura' last year generated controversy as the leaders of the Kuruba community felt that they had not been consulted on the issue.

They considered it a slight to the saint-composer, Kanakadasa, as the `gopura' was above the "Kanakana Kindi" (Kanaka's window), through which devotees had `darshan' of Lord Krishna before entering the temple.

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