Annual 'mahabhisheka' performed at Krishna Temple in Udupi

UDUPI: Senior seers of Udupi Ashta Muttcarried out the annual 'mahabhisheka' of Lord Sri Krishna at Krishna Temple here on Sunday.
Every year, on 'Ashadha shuddha dashami', the annual 'maha panchamruta abhisheka' is performed to the idol of Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of Sri Krishna Temple. This was preceded by 'ashtami udvartana' held on Friday as per ritual. The sanctum sanctorum was washed and cleaned for the mahabhisheka to be performed on dashami.
Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha of Paryaya Palimaru Mutt, Sri Vidyasagara Teertha of Sri Krishnapura Mutt, Sri Vishvapriya Teertha, senior seer of Admar Mutt, Sri Vidyavallabha Teertha of Kaniyoor Mutt, Sri Vishvaprasanna Teertha, junior seer of Sri Pejavar Adhokshaja Mutt and Sri Eeshapriya Teertha, junior seer of Admar Mutt took part in the 'mahabhisheka' performed with 1,108 tender coconuts, ghee, milk, curds and honey.
Explaining the ritual of 'ashtami udvartana', Sri Vidyadheesha said there was no use of electrical lamps in the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Krishna Temple. Since the beginning, Lord Krishna is worshipped and viewed with light emanating from ghee lamps. The sanctum sanctorum is small and is built as per the diktat of shastra and is bereft of windows. Thus, the soot emitted by these lamps that burn everyday gets deposited on the ceiling and walls.
The place where the idol exists is accessible to none other than the head of Paryaya Mutt, who washes and maintains it himself. The dust and soot, which may have remained inside the sanctum sanctorum due to low visibility on the walls, are washed and cleaned annually in a process called 'udvartana', which in Sanskrit means to wash and wipe.
The interior of the sanctum sanctorum is cleaned by the seers of the Ashta Mutt. In order to ensure that dust does not fall on the Krishna idol, it is covered with armour and sanctum sanctorum is then washed. The exteriors of the sanctum sanctorum are washed by the disciples of His Holiness.
The 'tirumanjanam'carried out at the Tirumala temple is similar to this program, Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha of Paryaya Palimaru Mutt, said.