Mangalore : In a rare gesture, a special pooja and a Yaga were performed at the famous  Hosanadu Kodyadka Shree Annapoorneshwari Temple  in the town of Moodbidri on Monday July 14  for the good health  of  the ailing King of Oman. Hundreds of devotees had gathered at the temple on Monday afternoon for the Chandika Maha Yaga and a Mass Prayer apart from other rituals held for the well being of  the King of Oman Sultan Qaboos  Bin Saeed, who is presently bed-ridden.

It is learnt that the special Yaga and pooja were performed under the initiative of NRI entrepreneur Kodyadka Jayaram Hegde whose business empire is  spread even in the Arab nations,  with the strong belief that  the rituals would improve the health of the King.

A  special Anna Prasada ( mass lunch) was also arranged for the devotees. Sources also say  the Prasada of the  Chandika Yaga and other rituals  will  be sent to King of Oman.

The Kodyadka Shree Annapoorneshwari shrine  is famous for its Anna Daana and the devotees partaking lunch at the temple are also exhorted on the discipline and rules of the temple via a mike. Another special feature is that the temple has maximum women staff.

Jagadishchandra Hegde, former trustee of the Mundkur Durgaparameshwari Temple, Mittabail Vasudeva Nayak, Anadka Dinesh Kumar and several devotees were present.