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The Janmasthami celebration of Kollur Sri Mo-okambika was held at the Mookambika temple on Sunday. 

Muzrai Department had ordered last year that the custom should be carried out without the presence of the seer of Sri Ramachandrapur mutt, as it was observed before 2006. 

But the High Court stayed the department order on June 10. As there was no official invitation to the seer by the temple, the custom was observed in his absence of the seer. 

It is believed that Advitha philosophy proponent Adi Shankaracharya, who consecrated the idol of Sri Mookambika, the presiding deity at the temple, had appointed the seer of Ramachandrapur Mutt as the head of religious rituals of the temple.

Hence, the temple priest had sought permission from the commissioner of Muzrai Department to invite Ramachandrapur Mutt seer Raghaveshwara Bharathi to mark the occasion of the consecration of Mookambika idol. Accordingly, the commissioner had granted the permission. It is said that the devotees of the mutt were disappointed with this move. 

The custom of observing rituals in the guidance of the seer was followed between 2006 and 2014. But due to some development in 2015, the department commissioner had ordered to follow the customs during the Janmasthami, as observed before 2006. Though the devotees from the mutt brought a stay order from Udupi court to the order of the department, the seer did not attend the rituals due to technical reasons, it is said.

Priest Shridhar Adiga said that temple’s senior priest Narasimha Adiga had filed a writ application in the High Court seeking a stay on the Muzrai Department commissioner’s order. The court stayed the order and also asked the temple authorities to solve the issue at State Dharmika Parishat.

The priests of the temple requested the CEO of the temple and the officer to officially invite the seer to Janmasthami celebrations referring to the court order. But the CEO did not agree to do so quoting some technical reasons. Hence, the seer could not take part in the ritual. 

This has disappointed the disciples of the Ramachandrapur Mutt who are from Havyaka community, as they have been carrying out the worship of the presiding deity of Kollur from a long time, it is learnt. 

Adiga said the families of the priests of the temple took care of the temple management as guided by the seer of Ramachandrapur mutt before the government took over the administration of the temple. Even to this day, the seer’s guidance is sought on several occasions. Traditional rituals should not be disturbed by quoting unnecessary reasons, he felt.