Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar is Mysuru’s new ‘Maharaja’

In a ceremony conjuring up images of the royal orient, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar was crowned as the new ‘Maharaja’ at the Amba Vilas Palace in Mysuru on Thursday.

The coronation was a private affair but symbolic of continuing the family tradition of the Wadiyars. It was devoid of anything consequent to the abolition of the institution of the maharajas and the Privy Purse after Independence.

The coronation was attended by a large number of well-wishers including members of the royal family, senior political leaders and the who’s who of Mysuru and Bengaluru. The presence of such large number of people was reflective of the contribution of the Wadiyars to the development of Mysuru and public affection.

The coronation ceremony

The coronation was held at Kalyana Mantapa at the Amba Vilas Palace, which was decked up for the occasion. Dressed in traditional attire, Yaduveer was ushered into the main courtyard at 9.05 a.m. by priests and palace officials. Elaborate rituals, supervised by the priests, followed and Yaduveer perambulated the silver throne of the Bhadrasana three times after which he ascended the throne at 9.40 a.m.

Amidst the chanting of the hymns and showering of petals, he was adorned with a traditional head gear on which a golden “patta” inscribed with the history of the Wadiyars or the Yaduvamsha in Sanskrit, a carving of Goddess Chamundeshwari and embellished with shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita was placed to make up the finale.

Earlier, Yaduveer visited the Palace’s Ganapati temple at 5.30 a.m. and participated in special prayers which lasted till 6.15 a.m. after which he attended the concluding ceremony of the four homas – Rama Taraka homa, Lakshmi Narayana home, Uma Maheshwara homa and Narasimha homa.

Incidentally, the ‘silver throne’ was being brought out for the coronation after 41 years when it was last ascended by Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar in 1974. The ‘golden throne’ is however kept for public viewing during Dasara every year and Yaduveer will be eligible to ascend it at the time of ‘Khas Durbar’ conducted by the family members to mark the festivities.

Yaduveer’s foster mother Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, his biological parents Tripura Sundari Devi and Swarup Anand Gopal Raj Urs, his fiancée Trishika Kumari and other members of the royal family, a galaxy of leaders including the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Minister for Tourism R.V. Deshpande, Revenue Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, former cricketer Brijesh Patel and others greeted the new Maharaja on the occasion.

The 23 year-old Yaduveer is the grandson of Princess Gayathri Devi, who was the eldest daughter of the last Maharaja of Mysuru, Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. He recently finished his graduation from a University in the United States and was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar. Her husband and the last scion, Srikantadatta Wadiyar passed away in December 2013.

In view of the coronation, the palace was closed for tourists on Thursday but the Palace will be special illuminated at night to mark the celebrations.

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