Paryaya is a ritualistic system by which the pontiffs of the eight muttts of Udupi, by turn, take up the responsibility of worshipping the deity at the Sri Krishna temple. The ceremony of the handing over the divine duty every two years, is known as the Paryaya festival.
Sri Vadirajaru changed the duration of the paryaya from two months to two years. He celebrated his first two-year paryaya in his 52nd year in 1532-33 AD. The rotation begins with Palimar Mutt and ends with Pejawar Mutt. On January 18, 2026 Sri Vedavardhana Thirtha of Shiroor Mutt will take over the temple administration.
The eight mutts are as follows: Palimar, Puthige, Shiroor, Kaniyoor, Krishnapura, Adamar, Sode, and Pejawar.
Preparations for the festival are as follows:
Baalemuhurtha ((Auspicious time for plantain and tulsi leaves stock)
Effort on plantain and tulsi groves for the incoming seer begins two years before he takes over the divine duty. The pontiff will require large quantities of tulsi/holy basil leaves for daily puja and plantain leaves for the feasts. On the day of the muhurtha, large number of Tulsi and plantain saplings are sowed.
Akkimuhurtha (Auspicious time for raw rice stock)
Udupi Sri Krishna is known as Anna Brahma, where thousands of devotees are fed daily. During the Paryaya festival, devotees folk to the mutt and to feed these devotees, a ritual known as akkimuhurtha is celebrated to stock raw rice.
Kattigemuhurtha (Auspicious time for firewood stock)
To cook the naivedya or blessed food, firewood is used. Firewood is piled in the shape of a chariot near Madhwa Sarovara (pond in Udupi Krishna Mutta)
Bhatta Muhurtha (Auspicious time for paddy stock)
Seven to eight weeks before Paryaya festival, paddy from the new crop is stored at the BadaguMaalige.
Pilgrimage
The pontiff when appointed to the temple administration cannot move out of Udupi for the tenure of two years. So, during the months leading to the Paryaya, the pontiff goes on a pilgrimage to all the Hindu holy places.
Pura pravesha (Entry into Udupi)
The swami concludes his tours a fortnight before Paryaya. He enters Udupi in a decorated chariot to chants and music. He is greeted by the important people of Udupi. The pontiff/seer offers prayers at Chandreshwara and Anantheshwaraen temples en route to Krishna Mutt.
HoreKaanike (Devotees offerings)
Days leading to the Paryaya festival, devotees bring grocery items like rice, jaggery, pulses, vegetables, coconuts and other items needed for the feast and offer them to the pontiff/seer.
The personal invite
A day before the Paryaya festival, the seer in a procession visits the other 7 mathas (monastaries) and invites the respective head seer/pontiffs for the rituals. The third day after Makara Shankrathi the outgoing seer/pontiff offers his last special services. A special extensive meal is arranged by the outgoing seer/pontiff on this day.
Day of the handover
Early morning, the appointed seer proceeds to the Danda Teertha, situated in Kaup, which is 9 Kms from Udupi. Danda Teertha is the place where Sri Madhvacharya studied the Vedas, under Sri Achyuta Preksha Theertha. Here is a pond created by Sri Madhva using his danda or stick.
The seer takes a dip in the pond and reaches Jodukatte in Udupi. He is greeted by people here and the seer takes the darshan of Lord Krishna through the Kanankana kindi (tiny window).
As he enters the Krishna Mutt, the outgoing seer receives his successor and leads him into the mutt holding hands. The idols are placed in a box on the teertha mantapa and an arathi is performed. Both the seers enter the sanctum sanctorum and pray before Sri Krishna. The Akshaya Patre(sacred vessel) is handed over along with the ladle and keys to the shrine. The appointed seer is made to sit on the Sarvajna Peetha (seat).
The new seer proceeds to the Badagu Maalige building and he distributes the sandal paste to all devotees.
Durbar (holding a court)
The new seer holds a court, where all the seers of the ashtha muttas (eight mathas) arrive in a procession. The outgoing seer bids farewell and the new appointed seer announces his plans for the Krishna Mutt.
Jai Sri Krishna!
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