HUBBALLI: An eight-year-old Russian by was given ‘Ishtalinga Deeksha’ by Dr Chandrashekara Shivacharya at the Kashi Mutt in Gokarna recently. The boy, Andre, also was given a new name as Ganesha.
The Kashi mutt seer has given ‘Ishtalinga Deeksha’ to thousands of people in the past and among them was Andre’s mother who later came to be called as Parvathi. She would conduct Ishtalinga puja every day at their home in Moscow and inspired by this, Andre insisted that he too would seek ‘Ishtalinga Deeksha’.
Accordingly, the family travelled to Gokarna where the boy was given ‘Ishtalinga Deeksha’ and also given a new name as Ganesha.