Kadri (Mangaluru): Yogi Sri Nirmalnathji took charge of the Kadali Yogeshwara Math, also known on Jogi Math, on Monday, March 7 in a glittering ceremony on the auspicious day of Maha Shivarathri.

With an oceanic crowd witnessing the coronation ceremony, Nirmalnathji was anointed as the ‘Raja’ of Vittal Jogi Math. The coronation ceremony takes place once in 12 years.

The crowd, apart from followers of the sect, mainly comprised of sages from the Nath Panth, who have come down to the coastal city of Mangaluru just to become a witness to the ceremony.

The ceremony began with hawan and homa led by Vedamurthy Sri Vittal Das Tantri in the Jogi Math premises.

The outgoing Raja Sandhyanathji handed over the traditional sword to Nirmalnathji, symbolically handing over the reigns of the Math. He was then offered the ‘Raj Tilak’ declaring him the Raja of the Math.

This was followed by handing over of the documents of the Math.

Former minister Krishna J Palemar, president of Karnataka Jogi Samaja Sudharaka Sangha Kiran Jogi, president of Paryaya Pattabhisheka committee H K

Purushottham, former speaker of Karnataka legislative assembly Yogish Bhat, corporators Ashok Kumar DK, Roopa D Bangera, president of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Sahitya Parishad Pradeep Kalkura were present in the ceremony.