Mangalore, Oct 3: Vedamurthy Dongerkery Ramachandra Janaradhan Bhat (77) (popularly called ‘Appa Bhat’) passed away on Wednesday, October 2 at 10.30 p.m. following heart attack. He was a resident of Dongerkery. He was a well known Pradhana Arachaka of Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery and was famous as a practitioner of traditional astrology using cowrie shells.
He had undergone surgery at a private hospital sometime back for removal of gallstones and had been ill for some time. He is survived by his wife Anuradha, one brother Vasanth Bhat and two sisters. His one brother and a sister had predeceased him.
He was born on 25.5.1943 and has been serving as a priest for almost 60 years. He practiced traditional cowrie shell astrology (Balme), which was a hereditary practice in his family, for the last 43 years and he was known as ‘Balme Bhat’.
He was a member of the management committee of Srinivas Patashala, VT Road. He has also served as Pradhana Arachaka of Sri Venkatramana Teemple, Car Street. He performed the pratistapana of granite Ganapathi idol (Sheela Ganapathi) at Mahamayee Temple, Car Street.
His father Vedamurthy Janaradhan Bhat had opened the doors of his family shrine Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery to the public with wide ranging spiritual activities. Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery is known for its annual Ganesh Chathurthi Festival when large crowds throng to offer worship. The 10-day event, which is approaching his 50th year, is also one of the longest periods of observing Ganeshotsava festival in entire Karnataka and perhaps India.
This festival is popular for the delicious daily lunch provided to the visiting devotees and also for the ‘Ranga Pooja’ prayers offered to the deity every night. Vedamurthy Ramachandra Bhat continued this tradition and took it greater heights. His personal popularity with the devotees, especially the youth, was very great.
His funeral was performed on Thursday afternoon after 5.00 pm at Boloor crematorium.
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