BALAKRISHNA OF UDIPI

PARYAYA AND ITS NECESSITY

As his philosophy spread to the four corners of India, many disciples of great intellectual luminosity and functional tenacity joined his faith and strengthened his hands by propagating the tenets in and around the town. Many were sent outside on propagation and expansion work. But eight of his disciples remained at Udipi itself. And this being the headquarters of the new faith, it required such number both for the administrative work and also carrying on the day to day prayer services to the presiding deity. So, a far-sighted and broad based system with well defined rules and principles was deemed a necessity. These eight disciples were in charge of eight Mutts established in the vicinity of temple itself, and were looking after the regular and special duties according to their conveniences; of course on mutual understanding and reciprocal adjustment. Any how, it presented certain problems. It was during Sri Vadiraja's time, some concrete and well defined Paryaya - change of guard system came into existence. 

The period of Parya is two years and everyone of the eight is given chance by rotation system. And each pontiff was given a separate individual Mutt and is made the head of it. Besides attending to the duties of the Mutt, they must undertake the responsibility of conducting daily pujas to the Mulavirat for two successive years. That Swamiji is reverentially designated as the Prayaya Swamiji.

This new tradition was introduced in 1532. It has elaborate procedure both for inducting the Swamiji and conducting the temple affairs. For two years, the Paryaya Swamiji is the chief over secular and spiritual affairs. Many ceremonies precede the installation. Full equipment like provisions and personnel for running and maintaining the whole Mutt, primarily the temple is then given full consideration and are provided. A perfectly planned scheme is drawn up before the Swamiji is established in the gadi. This tradition became instrumental in keeping aloft the banner of Dualism among the religions of the world. Credit goes to that redoubtable Acharya Swami Vadiraja, whose stamp of genus is borne in many aspects of temple, administration. And has became a modeI to other temples.

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