The event is held on `Makara Sankranti' as part of the `Sapthotsava' 

The "Three Chariot Festival", as part of the "Sapthotsava", was held with traditional pomp and gaiety at Car Street here on Sunday January 14. A large number of devotees participated in the event.

It was on the day of "Makara Sankranti" that the exponent of the Dwaita philosophy Acharya Madhwa installed a beautiful idol of Lord Krishna in Udupi nearly 800 years ago. To commemorate this, the "Sapthotsava" is held every year.

The festival began this year on January 9 and the "Three Chariot Festival" is held on "Makara Sankranti".

The "utsava murtis" of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana were brought to the "Madhwa Sarovara" (holy pond in the Sri Krishna Temple premises) in a golden palanquin at 7.30 p.m. They were then placed in a decorated boat in the shape of a chariot, which took three rounds in the sarovara. The idol of Lord Krishna was then taken out and placed in the "Brahmaratha", the idol of Lord Mukhyaprana in the "Garuduratha" and the "utsava murtis" of Lord Ananteshwara and Lord Chandramouleshwara were placed in the "Mahapuja Ratha" in front of the Sri Krishna Temple. Hundreds of devotees drew the three chariots chanting the name of the Lord. Sri Vidyasagara Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Krishnapur Math; Vishwesha Tirtha and Vishwaprasanna Tirtha (junior seer) of Pejawar Math; Vishwothama Tirtha of Sode Math; Vidyavallabha Tirtha of Kaniyur Math; Vishwapriya Tirtha of Admar Math; Vidyadheesha Tirtha of Palimar Math; and Lakshmivara Tirtha of Shiroor Math; walked in front of the "Brahma Ratha".

The "rathas" moved in a clockwise direction and came to a halt in front of the Sri Krishna Temple. The deities were placed in the golden palanquin and carried to the Vasanth Mahal for the puja.

After the puja, the Vidyasagara Tirtha offered "mantrakshata" to the devotees. Later, the "utsava murtis" were carried to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and the "Mangalarati" was performed. Vidyasagara Tirtha then offered sandal oil, paste and flowers to the other seers. The devotees were then given "kashaya tirtha".

The "Suvarnotsava" or "Churnotsava" will be held here on Monday, marking the culmination of the "Sapthotsava".

Now you can listen to the ancient sanskrit chants of Bhagavad Gita, sung in classical melodies by noted devotional singer Sri Vidyabhushana. Listen to all 700 verses of the Gita with a beautiful accompaniment of flute, veena, sitar, mridanga, tabla and tala. (Scroll down to listen to it online.)

Set includes 10 audio CDs (7 CDs of sanskrit chants, 2 CDs containing english translations for the entire Bhagavad Gita, and 1 CD providing an introductory lecture on the Bhagavad Gita by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada).