Sringeri Sharada Peetham Senior Pontiff Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamiji and his junior Sri Vidushekhara Bharathi Swamiji were accorded a grand welcome upon their arrival in city last evening.

The Seers were reverently received by city Mayor M.J. Ravi Kumar, Deputy Mayor Rathna Lakshman, former Minister S.A. Ramdas, Mysuru Brahmin Association President D.T. Prakash, Shankar Mutt Dharmadhikari H. Ramachandra, leader H.V. Rajeev and a host of  other personalities.

Later, the Junior Pontiff visited Sri Lakshminarayana Temple at Karikallu Thotti gate of the Palace and offered prayers to the deity. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

Corporators B.V. Manjunath, Seema Prasad and M.V. Ramprasad, leaders M.V. Ravishankar, Brahmin Community leaders Srivatsa, N. Srikanta Swamy, Vikram Iyengar, Ajay Shastri, Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya, Palace Security ACP Shailendra, Muzrai Tahsildar Yathiraj and others were present.

After the Darshan, the Seer embarked on a ‘Shobhayatre’ to Shankar Mutt in Fort Mohalla. The Palace elephants and hundreds of devotees marched along in the ‘Shobhayatre.’

Srirangapatna’s Shashwathi Dharmika Kriya Samithi Founder Dr. Bhanupraskash Sharma, Prof. Shelvapillai Iyengar, Melukote’s Ilai Alwar Swamiji and others priests chanted Veda Mantra Ghosha. Thereafter, Bharathi Theertha Swamiji performed special puja to Lord Chandramouleshwara at the Mutt premises. Later, Bharathi Theertha Swamiji delivered a discourse.

The Swamiji said that he had visited Mysuru two months after taking Sanyas. Now he is visiting the city again as his disciple Vidushekhara Bharathi Swamiji has embarked on a religious tour of South Indian States, praying for the well-being of the world.

During his current visit to Mysuru, he found that the people were deeply devoted to Sringeri Mutt and he was happy to see the large gathering of devotees. The Swamiji blessed the devotees saying that Goddess Sharadadevi will always be with them.

On Friday, Jagadguru Bharathi Theertha Swamiji and Junior Pontiff Vidushekhara Bharathi Swamiji arrived at Krishnarajanagar to a traditional welcome. Later, the Swamijis took part in the Guruvandana programme at Yadatore Sri Yoganandeshwara Saraswathi Mutt premises, following which the Swamijis performed puja to the deity. After Pada Puja, Bikshavandane, Phalasamarpane and other traditional rituals, the Seers were given a ceremonial farewell at K.R. Nagar yesterday afternoon.

Today at 5.30 pm, Guruvandana will be held at Sri Sringeri Shankar Mutt in Fort Mohalla here. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will be the chief guest and Mayor M.J. Ravi Kumar will preside. Vainika Vidwan  R.K. Padmanabha will present Veena recital at 6 pm; Sringeri Jagadguru will perform Sri Chandramouleshwara Puja at 8.30 pm.

Tomorrow (Mar. 13), Darshan of Sri Sringeri Seers at the Mutt premises between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm and they will leave for Hebsur in Chamarajanagar at 5.30 pm.