Mysore/Mysuru: “The Adichunchanagiri Mutt has rendered great service to the society including Vokkaliga community,” said former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

He was speaking after taking part on the first day of the two-day programme for the inauguration of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Mysuru Branch new building, BGS Samskrutika Bhavan and Guest House and Free Student Hostel in Lakshmikanthaswamy temple premises at Lakshmikanthanagar, Hebbal here on Sunday.

Pointing out that as the son of a farmer, he rose to become the Chief Minister of the state and Prime Minister of the country, Deve Gowda, now a Rajya Sabha Member maintained that he had not done anything wrong that has hurt the Vokkaliga community which he belongs to. Highlighting  the contribution of former MLC D. Madegowda for the development of Lakshmikanthaswamy temple, Deve Gowda recalled the services rendered by the late Adichunchanagiri  Mutt seer Sri Balagangadharnatha swamiji.

In his address MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) said that “Efforts for the development of the temple started during the times of former MLC Madegowda’s father and subsequently the former MLC undertook the responsibility for rejuvenation of the temple. Maintaining that the new buildings which have come up in the temple premises will be of much help to the society, he said the responsibility of maintaining them rests with us.

Noting that the Muzrai Department had made efforts to get custody of the temple, GTD said that however, the temple premises legally belonged wholly  to the Mutt. Underlining the importance of the temple which has been developed under the guidance of the Mutt’s Mysuru branch Seer Sri Someshwaranatha Swamiji, the MLA called upon everyone to maintain cleanliness of the nearby Hebbal Lake which has been developed by Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty.

Titular head of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who was one of the guests on the occasion, reflected on the continued association between the Mysore Palace and Adichunchanagiri Mutt. Highlighting the contributions of the Mutt to the society and the State, Yaduveer said he feels blessed to have been a part of the programme.

Earlier, floral tributes were offered to the statue of late Adichunchanagiri Mutt Seer Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji.

Adichuchanagiri Mutt Seer Dr. Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji graced the occasion. The Mutt’s Mysuru branch Seer Sri Someshwarnatha Swamiji, Sri Purushothamananda Swamiji, Kaginele Mutt Mysuru branch Seer Sri Shivanandapuri Swamiji, MLA K. Harishgowda, Mayor Shivakumar, leaders Sandesh Swamy, Appajigowda, C. Basavegowda, Srikantegowda and D. Madegowda, former MLAs L. Nagendra and C.S. Puttaraju, Vidyavardhaka Sangha President Gundappa Gowda and others were present.

Bhyrava Jyothi gets grand welcome

Earlier, in the day, the Bhyravajyothi Yatra organised as part of the event from Adichunchanagiri Mutt near Bellur Cross in Nagamangala taluk, Mandya district, arrived at Lakshmikanthaswamy temple here to a grand reception. The Yatra passed through Nagamangala, Melukote, Pandavapura and Srirangapatna to reach Deve Gowda Circle on Ring Road in Mysuru, from where it passed through the main thoroughfares of Siddarthanagar, Vidyaranyapuram, Vontikoppal, Kumbarakoppal and other localities of the city to reach Lakshmikanthaswamy temple premises in Hebbal later in the evening.

Various homas and rituals were conducted in the temple premises.

Seers Sri Someshwarnatha Swamiji, Purushothamananda Swamiji, Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji, Chamundi Hill temple Chief Priest Shashishekar Dikshit and others were present.