Mysuru gets new prince as Wodeyar heir

Mysuru, Feb 23 (IANS) The Mysuru royal family Monday adopted 22-year-old Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs as the new prince, and heir of 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 royal member told IANS here, about 150 km from Bengaluru.

Pramoda Devi, widow of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, adopted Yaduveer in the presence of the royal family and about 1,000 guests invited for the grand occasion.

"Soon after adoption, the new scion was rechristened Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar to ascend the royal throne after coronation before the grand Dasara festival in October," the family member said.

Yaduveer, son of Tripura Sundara Devi and Swarup Anand Gopal Raj Urs, is the grandson of late 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 Dec 10, 2013 at the age of 60.

"As Srikantadatta and Pramoda Devi have no children, she adopted Yaduveer as the new scion," the family member said.

According to a legend, Raja Wodeyar, founder of the present 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 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 the royal family members 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 maharaja of Sirohi in Rajasthan and the maharaja of Dungarpur in Gujarat were among the special invitees for the royal event.

Hundreds of tourists, including foreigners visiting the palace, also witnessed the royal ceremony from outside, as entry was prohibited.

The special guests and invitees were served a sumptuous lunch comprising royal dishes and sweets.

Later, the new prince was taken around the illuminated palace premises in a silver chariot to greet the people.

The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the erstwhile Mysuru kingdom for over seven centuries from 1399 to 1950.

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.