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`Dhwaja sthambha' installed at temple

Staff Correspondent

Elaborate rituals mark the ceremony

A GRAND AFFAIR: `Kalashabhisheka' being performed for the silver `dhwaja sthambha' of Sri Durgadevi Temple at Kunjargiri in Udupi district on Friday.

Kunjargiri (Udupi District): The "dhwaja sthambha" installation ceremony was performed here at the 1,500-year-old Sri Durgadevi Temple on Friday under the guidance of Sri Vibudesha Tirtha Swamiji of Sri Admar Math.

Elaborate rituals marked the ceremony. The silver dhwaja sthambha is 53 ft tall and about 128 kg of silver has been used to cover it. The dhwaja sthambha, which is made out of a single piece of wood of the "bhogi" tree, was created by Ganapati Acharya of Shankarpura at a cost of Rs. 23 lakhs.

After performing the "Ashtothara Shata Brahma Kumbhabhisheka" to Goddess Durgadevi, the "Kalashabhisheka" was performed for the dhwaja sthambha.

Sri Vibudesha Tirtha Swamiji said it is necessary for people to follow the right path. Religion is a means to attain salvation, and people should be courteous to their fellow beings, he said.

K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said temples are places where people put their faith in God.

He said the seer has been generous in providing five cents of land each to people living on the Mattadakudru Island. Land was also given for the construction of a hanging bridge near Alevoor. This shows that the maths are working for the welfare of society, he added.

History

According to the legend, Lord Parushurama installed the idol of Goddess Mahishamardini. There are four "tirthas", "Parushu tirtha", "Gada tirtha", "Bana tirtha", and "Dhanus tirtha" on four sides of Kunjargiri Hill.

Exponent of Dwaita philosophy Sri Madhwacharya is said to have played on this hill during his childhood. The hill was then known as "Vimanagiri". It was also known as "Durga Betta". The name "Vimanagiri" appears in the work, "Sumadhwa Vijaya" by Narayana Panditacharya. Sri Vadiraja Swamiji makes a mention of "Durga Betta" in his work "Tirtha Prabhanda".

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