Preparations afoot to install 32 feet tall monolithic statue of Sri Madhwacharya at Kunjarugiri

Preparations afoot to install 32 feet tall monolithic statue of Sri Madhwacharya at Kunjarugiri

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Aug 20, 2013 : A 32 feet tall monolithic statue of Sri Madhwacharya is proposed to be installed at Kunjarugiri as per the wishes of Sri Vidyadheesha Theertha Swamiji of Palimar Mutt. The  marble required for the sculpting of the statue  has already been dispatched from Bangalore and is set to arrive in Udupi on August 21, Wednesday.

 Informing this to reporters here, Balaram Bhat, Manager of Palimar Mutt, said the  huge marble weighing 180 tonnes  is being transported in a puller and three trailers with 120 tyres.

The vehicle which is over 100 feet long has left  Doddaballapur in Bangalore on July 29 and will reach Udupi on Wednesday via Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davangere, Hubli, Yellapur, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Kundapur and Anegudde.

At Anegudde the  marble  will be offered special prayers and will arrive in Udupi at  3 pm where it would be accorded a grand welcome near Karavali bye-pass. From there it will be taken in a huge vehicle jatha upto Katapady Subhashnagar in the presence of Sri Vishwapriya Theertha Swamiji of Admar Mutt. The Statue will be installed    at Kunjarugiri near Pajaka where Madhwacharya had spent his childhood.

The works on a eight feet tall  peetha or platform weighing 80 tonnes are already underway and are in the finishing stages. The statue will be set on top of this platform and the project is estimated to cost Rs 1.5 crores, Bhat informed.

 The marble statue will be sculpted in accordance to the  personality of  Madhwacharya as described in Tantrasara. National Award winning sculptor Ashok Gudigar of Sagar will be entrusted the work of getting the statue ready.