MANGALURU: Maths, or religious institutions in Karnataka, many of which were established several centuries ago, have huge following from different communities. There are thousands of big and small maths which are followed by different castes and communities such as Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kurubas, Valmikis, Nayakas and Madigas. Among these, Lingayats have more than a thousand mutts in Karnataka alone.
The Nath Sampradaya Kadri Math is situated in Mangaluru and devotees from all over India visit this place to seek the blessing of the seer. Additionally, the math houses Kal Bhairav, Shiva and many samadhis.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shares a special bond with Mangaluru. Yogi Adityanath is the president of the Akhila Bharata Yogi Mahasabha and has visited Mangaluru several times. He also participated in the anointing ceremony of the new ‘raja’ of the Kadali Yogeshwar (Jogi) Math. The ceremony, known as Paryaya Raja Pattabhisheka, is held once every 12 years.
Suraj Kamat, a resident of Mangaluru, who is the manager of Kadri Math, said, “Earlier, Kadri Yogeshwar Math was called Kadli. Parashuram ji had done penance, this is a holy place, there is a temple of Kaal Bhairav ji, which is a monastery of the Nath sect”.
“There are 12 panths of the sect. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, is the president of the Kadri Math. People of all ideologies come to the Math and seek blessings”, Kamat said.
“The Math was established when Machedranath ji and Gorakshanath ji came to South India to preach. From that time till now, the Peethadhishwar has become the king every 12 years. The king changes every 12 years, whenever Yogi ji comes to Bengaluru towards Udupi. When CM Yogi Adityanath comes, he does not stay in a hotel, he stays here in Math”, Kamat said.
“People from all the communities of Mangaluru are connected here. All the people come here for darshan of Guruji. The Jogi community comes here for the darshan of Kaal Bhairav Ji. Their entire community worships and does service here in Jogi Math. People from all the communities come to the monastery of the Nath sect to seek the blessings of Raja ji i.e. Guru ji”, Kamat added.
Shan is a devotee of the Guru of Kadri Mutt. He has been coming to the math since childhood. He said “I have been coming to the math for about 15 years to serve. I live in Mangaluru and Kadri Math is a very ancient place. I am here to serve Guruji. I come to have darshan of the Guru. Nath sect has been present in the whole country since ancient times and Guru is at the top. We come to seek his blessings. Many people come here for darshan”.
Ayodhya Nath Ji Maharaj said, “I have been here for a few months. I was in Rajasthan, this is a Siddha land, it is a Tapobhoomi and whoever comes here feels very good, they get peace and feel very good here”.
Bharat Singh Solanki, a follower of Kadri Math, is from Jalore district of Rajasthan and has been serving the Math for 16 years. “People from all over the country come here for darshan, especially on Guru Purnima, which is Guruji’s birthday. At that time, we come here and there are four functions in 12 months”, he said. (ANI)