Paryaya

"Paryaya" in both Sanskrit and Kannada means "alternative". It can be loosely meant as "Another".

Paryaya ritual at Udupi

Paryaya is a religious ritual which takes place every alternate year in Krishna Matha (Krishna Temple) of Udupi. The puja (pooja) and administration of Krishna Matha is distributed among the Swamijis (seer or monk or pontiff) of ashta matha established by Dvaita philosopher Sri Madhvacharya. Each swamiji of every matha gets chance to perform puja by rotation. During paryaya, the puja and administration of Krishna Matha is handed over from swamiji of one matha to the swamiji of another matha. It takes place every two years in even numbered years for example 2006,2008,2010 and so on. On 18 January 2008, the puja and administration was to be handed over to Puttige matha swamiji Sugunendra Thirta Padangalavaru from Krishnapura Matha's swamiji. The paryaya takes place on 18 January early morning of mentioned year at Udupi. The preparations start from the previous day itself. The ascending swamiji goes to a place called Dandithirta and takes dip at holy pond and does puja as per tradition. He enters Udupi city early morning at around 3A.M. A procession is taken from jodukatte (Near Taluk office) of Udupi town, where ascending swamiji is carried in planquin along with cultural shows and plays. The swamiji then enters Krishna Matha accompanied by outgoing swamiji, where formally reins of Krishna Matha are handed over. The hand over ceremony is held at Sarvajna peetha inside Krishna Math.At this ceremony descending swamiji hands over articles like keys to ascending swamiji.There are many other rituals which precede this and succeeding,but no written information is available,even though traditions are strictly followed as it was seven hundred years ago.

Current Paryaya

*Sri Sri Sugunendrathirtha Swamiji- Puttige Matha

Next Paryaya

* Sri Sri Laxmivara Thirtha Swamiji - Shirur Matha

Order of Paryaya

The rotation of the privilege of worshipping Lord Krishna amongst the eight mathas is fixed. The rotation starts with the Palimaru matha and ends with the Pejavara matha. The complete order is

* Palimaru
* Adamaru
* Krishnapura
* Puthige
* Shirur
* Sodhe
* Kaniyooru
* Pejavara

External links

* [http://www.udupipages.com/home/temple/paryaya.html Paryaya]
* [http://www.kar.nic.in/gazetteer See South Canara Gazetteer 1894]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/19/stories/2006011921420100.htm Report on Paryaya ]
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan152006/update134572006115.asp Paryaya festival]
* [http://www.dvaita.org/madhva/udupi/paryAya_1980.html Glimpses of Paryaya]
* [http://www.boloji.com/places/0021.htm The Eight Tulu Monasteries of Udupi]