Karnataka priests perform rituals for ’bhoomi pujan’ of new Parliament building

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 11, 2020:     A team of six priests from Sringeri Sharada Peetha in  Karnataka performed pujas during the foundation-laying ceremony for the new Parliament building, at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

T V Shivakumar Sharma, K S Lakshmi Narayana Somayaji, KS Ganesh Somayaji and Nagaraja Adiga flew in to the national capital from Sringeri, while Raghavendra Bhat and Rishyasringa joined them from the Delhi branch of the Mutt.

The rituals and pujas were conducted as per Hindu traditions from 8 am.

Priests performed Guru puja, Ganapathi puja, Punyavachana, Adikesha puja, Anantha puja, Varaha puja, Vastu puja, Kshethrapala and Bhuvaneshwari puja.

The prime minister placed a silver brick sent by Bharathiteertha Swami of the Sharada Peetha at 1 pm.

Later, a ‘sarva dharma prarthana’ (all-religion prayer) was conducted. Leaders of different faiths recited prayers and gave their blessings for the new building.

Soon after the date for the event was fixed, the prime minister had asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to arrange the priests from Sringeri to conduct the ceremony.

“I contacted Bharathiteertha Swami and he agreed to send experienced priests,” Joshi said.

During his address, the prime minister recalled the Anubhava Mantapa set up by 12th-century social reformer Basavanna.

He said Basavanna had set up the Anubhava Mantapa in the 12th century, much before the Magna Carta was granted by the King of England in 1215.

“Basavanna said Anubhava Mantapa will work for the development and welfare of the people and the country. Its functioning will inspire everyone. This is also a kind of democracy,” Modi said in Kannada, quoting Basavanna.

Courtesy:Deccan Herald