Mangaluru: Vedamurthy Dongerkery Ramachandra Janaradhan Bhat (77) (popularly called ‘Appa Bhat’) has passed away after suffering from a heart attack on Wednesday, October 2 at 10:30 pm. He was a resident of Dongerkery and was a well-known Pradhana Arachaka of the Shree Ganapathi Mutt in Dongerkery. Bhat was also 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 now. Bhat is survived by his wife Anuradha, brother Vasanth Bhat, and two sisters.

Born on May 25, 1943, Bhat had been serving as a priest for almost 60 years. He practised traditional cowrie shell astrology (Balme), which was a hereditary practise in his family, for the last 43 years and also earned the nickname “Balme Bhat”.

Bhat was a member of the management committee of Srinivas Patashala, VT Road. He has also served as Pradhana Arachaka of Sri Venkatramana Temple, Car Street and performed the pratistapana of the granite-stone Ganapathi idol (Sheela Ganapathi) at Mahamayee Temple, Car Street.

His father, Vedamurthy Janaradhan Bhat had opened the doors of his family shrine Shree Ganapathi Mutt, Dongerkery to the public with wide-ranging spiritual activities. Shree Ganapathi Mutt, Dongerkery is known for its annual Ganesh Chathurthi Festival during which large crowds throng to worship the deity. The 10-day event, which is approaching its 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 to greater heights. His personal popularity with the devotees, especially the youth, was great.

Bhat’s funeral was performed at the Boloor crematorium on Thursday, September 3.