Melukote: The historic Krishnarajamudi Brahmotsava commenced yesterday at Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple here with the traditional Garuda Dwajarohana signalling the launch of the festivities.

Special prayers were offered amidst the chanting of veda followed by rituals to invoke Garudadeva.

Earlier to that on Tuesday, commemorating the Vardanthi of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Mahabhisheka was performed on Cheluvanarayana Swamy and Ramanujacharya followed by Kalyanotsava.

The Brahmotsava will go on tille July 21. Former MP Siddu B. Nyamagowda, MLAs Prasanna Kumar, Ravi Subramanya and Basavaraj Patil  visited  the temple on Tuesday.

Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had taken a vow before Cheluvanarayana Swamy to be blessed with a child and on fulfilment of that he had donated Krishnarajamudi crown studded with gems along with a Gandaberunda medallion to the temple and had launched the Brahmotsava during Ashadamasa. An artistic  Bhuvaneshwari  Mantapa was also constructed at the Kalyani. From then on, the Brahmotsava is being held regularly.

Krishnarajamudi crown will adorn the idol of the deity on July 15 evening followed by a procession and the festivities would go on till July 21, according to temple authorities.