MYSURU:Scenes from the glory days of Mysuru returned for a royal adoption on Monday, ending the gloom following the death of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar in 2013. Srikantadatta and his wife Pramoda Devi had no children, so she formally adopted Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, making him the 27th prince of the Mysuru lineage. The coronation will take place in May.
An illuminated kalyana mantap inside Amba Vilas Palace came alive for its first auspicious event since the wedding of Srikantadatta Wadiyar and Pramoda Devi in 1976.
It was not just the royal family that had moist eyes. For many citizens, the festivities brought back nostalgic memories, such as the ascension of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar.
When Mysuru acceded to India, the Mysuru royal family conceded power gracefully. In democratic times, the namesake princes continued to enjoy goodwill, generated largely by a dynasty famous for its kind, enlightened rule. Hundreds of women from the royal family filled the galleries on Monday, as did well-wishers and dignitaries.
Dasara Hopes
The adoption has revived hopes that the 400-year-old Dasara festivities will now be held every year without any compromise on tradition. The Mysuru Palace, thrown open to guests, was decorated with fragrant Mysuru mallige (jasmine) garlands. Lotuses and a variety of flowers were also used for palace ornamentation. The guests sat on ornate durbar chairs. The ceremony began at 4.30 am with Ganga puja, Ganesha homa and seven other rituals performed by a team of about 80 priests led by Janaradhan Iyengar. The adoption began at 1.10 pm. Royals Indrakshi Devi and Rajchandra Urs sat in the mantap and began the rituals.
Pramoda Devi, dressed in a parrot green Mysore silk saree, sat next to a portrait of Srikantadatta Wadiyar, and personally supervised the hour-long adoption and naming ceremony.
Tears rolled down her cheeks when Yaduveer Gopalraj Urs, as the prince used to be called earlier, arrived with his father Swaroop Anand Gopal Urs and mother Leela Tripura Sundari Devi.
Dressed in a golden sherwani, and sporting a royal necklace and a gold-laced red Mysuru turban, Yaduveer was welcomed to Vedic chants. He performed a puja and was formally adopted by Indrakshi Devi and Rajchandra Urs at the dattu (adoption) ceremony.
The name of Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar was appended to Yaduveer. Pramoda Devi accepted him and made him sit on her lap. Overwhelmed, she then kissed her adopted son. The family distributed sugar, as is the tradition, to Meenakshi Devi, Kamakshi Devi, Vishalakshi Devi and others of the royal family.
Pramoda Devi applied vermilion on Yaduveer’s forehead and they offered puja together.
They also offered respects to Brahma Tanthra Swathantara Parakala Swamy of Parakala Mutt by washing his feet.
Royals from Rajasthan and other states, who had turned up in good numbers, greeted them and handed them gifts.
Home Minister K J George, Housing Minister M H Ambareesh, Congress leader C K Jaffar Sharief, Yaduveer’s fiance Trishika, legislator Vasu and Mysore University vice-chancellor S Rangappa were among the guests. Kantharaje Urs, nephew of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, earlier tipped to be the successor, was absent.
District Ministers Skip Palace Gala
District-in-charge Minister V Srinivasa Prasad and other ministers from Mysuru district kept away from the adoption ceremony, although they had been formally invited by the royals. It wasn’t clear, however, whether the family had invited Chief Minister Siddaramiah.
Sources said Prasad, a close friend of Srikantadatta Wadiyar who was trying to help the family settle property disputes with the government, had left for Bengaluru as he had a prior engagement. Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, MUDA Commissioner Palaiah, MCC Commissioner Betsur Mutt and others attended the adoption ceremony.