Mysuru adopts 22-year-old as Wodeyar heir

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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.