Team Goemkarponn
PARTAGALI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 77-foot-tall bronze statue of Lord Ram at Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math, marking it as Asia’s tallest statue of the deity. The event coincided with the commencement of the Math’s grand 11-day Sardha Panchashatamanotsava, celebrating 550 years of its establishment.
The celebrations began early in the morning with traditional Havan rituals led by H.H. Shri Vidyadheesh Teertha Swamiji. Devotees witnessed the ‘Devata Prarthana’ Havan at the shrines of Shree Ramdev and Veer Vittal at 7 am, followed by the Shree Rama Nama Taraka Mantra Japa Havan. Afternoon rituals included Laghu Poornahuti, Prasad distribution, ‘Bramhana Samaradhana’, and ‘Maha Annasantarpan’, while evening ceremonies featured Shibikotsav and Ashtavadhan Seva.
As part of the 11-day Parayana Yajana, the Brahmasootra–Anuvyakhyana was recited before Lord Shree Ramadev Veer Vittal. Scholar Vid. B. Ramakrishna Bhat delivered a discourse on the Valmiki Ramayana, explaining interpretations rooted in the Tatoarya Nirnaya tradition of Shreeman Madhwacharya. The daily Japa Yajna is scheduled from 11 am to 11:15 am at the Madhwa-Narayan Mantap.
Two of the four Mathadheeshs attending the festivities — Parama Poojya Shreemad Vidyadheesh Teerth Swamiji of Palimaru Math and Patta Shishya Shreemad Vidyarajeshwar Teerth Swamiji — offered Dev Darshan and participated in the day’s events.
A spiritual highlight of the festival is the conclusion of the Sardha Panchashatakoti Shree Rama Nama Japa Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign initiated last Ram Navami to collectively chant the Shree Rama Taraka Mahamantra 550 crore times across 120 centres, culminating on October 18. The Shree Rama Rath Yatra was ceremoniously received at the Math on Wednesday.
The evening also included a Dharma Sabha honouring contractors and engineers, followed by cultural programmes — ‘Dassa Vaibhava’ by Puttur Narasimha Nayak and ‘Shree Rama Gayana’ by Pt. Upendra Bhat and his team. The day concluded with a devotional concert by renowned singer Anup Jalota.
Established in 1475 AD, Partagali Math is the oldest Vaishnava Math of the Gauda Saraswat Brahmin community and continues to be a revered spiritual hub attracting devotees from across India.
