Udupi: Sri Vedavardhana ThirthaSwamiji of Shiroor Mutt said the worship of Lord Krishna at Udupi is not merely a ritual but a sacred mission aimed at spreading the teachings of Sri Krishna across the globe.Addressing devotees at the Paryaya Darbar held at Rajangana on Sunday, the pontiff described the worship of Krishna as a form of yajna. He recalled Sri Madhvacharya’s emphasis on service, stating that serving humanity and serving Janardhana are of utmost importance. “The Supreme Being exists in all living beings,” he said.The Pontiff noted that while people often travel to various destinations during holidays, serving Lord Krishna at the Udupi Krishna Mutt through selfless devotion brings divine grace. He urged devotees to follow prescribed rituals, adding that selfless devotion alone constitutes true worship.Highlighting the importance of the Vedas, Sri Vedavardhana ThirthaSwamiji said the Supreme Being holds great reverence for them. “Protecting and nurturing the Vedas pleases God. They form the foundation of our religion, and it is our responsibility to preserve them and propagate their message,” he said, calling upon people to imbibe the principles enshrined in the ancient scriptures.Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari and Rajya Sabha MP D Veerendra Heggade said the Paryaya of Sri Shiroor Mutt should become a platform to spread the message of Sri Krishna to a wider audience.Mysore MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar recalled the more than 200-year-old bond between the Mysore royal family and the Udupi Mutt. He said the spiritual movement led by the Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt should continue eternally and urged devotees to unite for the protection of religion and the centuries-old legacy of the Ashta Mutts.Pontiffs of the Ashta Mutts were present at the traditional darbar.Aniruddha in PoorvashramaIn a video that has gone viral, Shiroor Mutt diwan Udaya Kumar Saralathaya, the father of Sri Vedavardhana ThirthaSwamiji in his poorvashrama, shared insights into his son’s journey to ascetic life. Referring to his son by his former name, Aniruddha, he said, “I returned the gift God gave me back to God. When Aniruddha first expressed his wish to become a pontiff, I explained the discipline and perseverance required of a sanyasi. But his firm resolve led him on this path.”Born on Sept 30, 2005, Sri Vedavardhana ThirthaSwamiji completed his education up to SSLC at Vidyodaya Public School in Udupi. He later received training in the Vedas, pourohitya, and other religious scriptures under the guidance of his father.
