Mysore/Mysuru: Udupi Sri Shiroor Mutt Seer Vedvardhana Teertha Swamiji arrived to a traditional welcome in city yesterday. The Seer was brought in a procession from Javaregowda Park in Saraswathipuram to Sri Krishnadhama.

The Seer is in city, to meet the devotees of Lord Sri Krishna, as part of his Paryaya Poorva Parikrama Yatre, organised by Sri Krishna Mitra Mandali, Sri Krishna Trust and Sri Krishnadhama, on Sahukar Channaiah Road, T.K. Layout here.

Speaking on the occasion, Vid. B.N. Vijayendracharya said, unlike any other Mutts in the country, it’s only in Sri Krishna Mutt, that ‘Bal Sanyasi’ custom is still in practice.

Sri Vedavardhana Teertha Swamiji is now 21-year-old but he embraced spirituality at the age of five. Following a call given by Sri Krishna Mutt, to head the Shiroor Mutt, the Seer, who hails from a place near Dharmasthala, happily accepted the call and came to serve Lord Sri Krishna.

Under the leadership of the Swamiji, the maiden Paryaya Puja tradition will be handed over in a span of two months.

Hence, the Swamiji has personally come down to the city to extend an invitation to the devotees for Paryaya rituals.

Recalling previous Pontiff of Udupi Pejawar Mutt Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji, Vid. Vijayendracharya said Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji wielded enormous clout from local to Delhi level. The Swamiji had been to New Delhi once, when he met the then Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani. Jocularly, the Swamiji was addressed as ‘Putta Sanyasi’ for being short in height, but the former had stated; be it small or big, it’s only when people accept us, our puja will reach the God.

Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji holds the credit of uniting all the Hindu saints of the country. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe Swamiji as ‘Vishwa Sanyasi,’ added Vid. Vijayendracharya.

To cite an example of the profound influence enjoyed by the Swamiji, Vid. Vijayendracharya said, when the Swamiji visited a museum in front of Parliament Bhavan in New Delhi, he was astonished to see the photos of the British adorning the walls of the museum. The Swamiji had advised PM Narendra Modi to replace the photos with the leaders who ruled the country, as the British rule ceased long ago.

Rajyotsava awardee Prof. K. Ramamurthy Rao was felicitated on the occasion. KR MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha Mysuru Unit President D.T. Prakash, Sri Krishna Mitra Mandali President N. Gopalakrishnan and Ravi Shastri and P.S. Shekar of Sri Krishna Trust were present.