Udupi: Religious ceremonies at Puttige Mutt for annual Abhisheka

Udupi, 15 July 2016: As part of the annual Abhisheka, religious ceremonies were held at Puttige Mutt in Hiriadka. Puttige Mutt’s Shri Sugunendra Theertha and Chitrapura Mutt’s Shri Vidyendra Thirtha conducted the Udwarchane, Mahabhisheka and Mudradharane. Puttige Mutt is one of the eight mutts founded by Saint Shri Madhwacharya located next to Sode Mutt in the southern portion of the Car Street. The main branch of this Mutt is in the village by name Puttige. The idol of Vithal with Rukmini and Satvabhama gifted to the first pontiff Sri Upendra Thirtha by the Acharya Madhva is worshipped here. The idol has a smiling face with conch in one hand. The other hand with abhaya mudra is placed on the waist. Since other two Mutts also have the idol of Vithala, the idol of this Mutt is known as Upendra Cvithala to distinguish this from the other idols as the one worshipped by the pontiff Upendra Thirtha. The 29th swamiji in the lineage Shri Sugunendra Thirtha is the present pontiff. He was initiated into the order at the age of 13 on the 8th April, 1974.