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Mysuru adopts 22-year-old as Wodeyar heir
Mysuru, Feb 23
Mysuru's erstwhile royal family Monday adopted 22-year-old Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs as the heir to the legendary Wodeyar dynasty.
"The
adoption ceremony took place at the auspicious time (1.15-1.50 p.m.) in
the decked-up Amba Vilas Palace amid chanting of Vedic hymns and
prayers," a member of the erstwhile royal family told IANS here, about
150 km from Bengaluru.
Pramoda Devi, widow of Srikantadatta
Narasimharaja Wodeyar, adopted Yaduveer in the presence of members of
the erstwhile royal family and about 1,000 guests specially invited for
the grand occasion in this city of palaces.
"Soon after adoption,
the new scion was rechristened Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar
to ascend the throne after coronation before the grand Dasara fest in
October," the family member said.
Yaduveer, son of Tripura
Sundara Devi and Swarup Anand Gopal Raj Urs, is the grandson of princess
Gayathri Devi, eldest sister of Srikantadatta and eldest daughter of
the last maharaja (king) Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar.
The scion,
who is pursuing a degree course in English and Economics at Boston, US,
wore a golden-coloured bandgala and sported a reddish royal headgear
with a diamond necklace for the ceremony.
Srikanatadatta died in Bengaluru Dec 10, 2013 at the age of 60.
"As Srikantadatta and Pramoda Devi have no children, they are adopting Yaduveer to be the new scion," the family member said.
According
to a legend, Raja Wodeyar, founder of the dynasty, was cursed by Rani
Alamelamma in 1610 that "the kings of Mysore will suffer the pangs of
childlessness".
Since then, every alternate generation of Wodeyars had problems with heirs, including the last scion (Srikantadatta).
The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Mysuru kingdom for over seven centuries from 1399 to 1950.
The
adoption rituals were conducted by Indrakshi Devi, younger sister of
Srikantadatta, and monitored by Pramoda Devi under the guidance of
palace priests, led by Parakala mutt seer Abhinava Vageesha Brahmatantra
Swatantra in the octagonal glass-topped kalyana mantap (sanctum
sanctorum).
Yaduveer sat with his parents on a raised wooden
platform on one side, while Pramoda Devi and members of the erstwhile
royal family on the other side for the ceremony.
Sprinkling holy
water on Yaduveer, Pramoda Devi sought consent of his parents for
adoption and placed him on her lap to whisper his new name three times.
The
ex-maharaja of Sirohi in Rajasthan and the ex-maharaja of Dungarpur in
Gujarat, Karnataka Home Minister K.J. George and Housing Minister M.H.
Ambareesh were among the special invitees for the royal occasion.
Hundreds
of tourists, including foreigners visiting the palace, also witnessed
the ceremony from outside, as entry was prohibited.
The special guests and invitees were served a sumptuous lunch.
Later, the new heir was taken around the illuminated palace premises in a silver chariot to greet the people.
Considered
one of the richest royals in the country, the Wodeyar dynasty has huge
moveable and immovable properties, including royal palaces in Mysuru and
Bengaluru located in large estates valued at crores of rupees.
Srikantadatta,
a two-time lawmaker, declared assets worth Rs.1,500 crore in an
affidavit for contesting the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. Among his assets were
15 luxury cars and expensive watches.