Friday, June 24 2005 15:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tirupathi: For the first time after his release on bail in the Sankararaman murder case, the Kanchi seer, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near Tirupathi today (Jun 24, 2005).

The Kanchi pontiff, who on a 17-hour pilgrimage arrived in Tirupathi last evening (Jun 24, 2005) participated in an hour-long weekly 'abhishekam' (celestial bath) conducted to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara, amidst chanting vedic hymns, by the senior priests of the temple at the hill temple this morning.

Observing the centuries old practice, the pontiff was accorded a ceremonious and traditional reception by the temple management.

The Acharya had last visited the hill shrine on October 1, last year (2005) when he along with his junior, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, had offered a Rs 1.5 crore diamond studded crown to the main deity to mark the completion of 50 years of his ascension to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. On behalf of the temple management, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had received the princely offering from the pontiffs on the hills at that time.

The Kanchi Mutt branch officials on the hills said the seer 'is not interested to speak to the press this time'. However, they said that the media could take blessings from the seer and take his photographs.