Post-funeral rituals of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar at Mysore Palace today

Zee Media Bureau

Mysore: Mysore Palace will mark the post-funeral rituals of 60-year-old Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family, who dies of cardiac arrest at a private hospital earlier this month. The supporters of the last descendant of the Wodeyar dynasty are holding a two-day ‘Anna Santharpane’ and the relatives and friends of the royal family are expected to attend. The rituals include pada pooja followed by ‘Anna Santharpane’ in which thousands of people will be fed. The palace has currently been closed for visitors. The post-funeral rituals started on Sunday with several people tonsuring their heads to pay tribute to Wodeyar. Security arrangements have been tightened as thousands of people are expected to visit the royal graveyard, Manuvanan, where Wodeyar was cremated. Wodeyar died of a massive cardiac arrest while resting after lunch in his Bangalore Palace at the city centre.  His last rites will be performed by a nephew (sister`s son) of Wodeyar, who did not have an offspring.  As the 26th descendant of the six centuries old Woodier dynasty, Srikantadatta was the only son of the last Mysore Maharaja (king) Jayachamarajendra and Tripurasundaramanni and fourth in line with three elder and two younger sisters.  Eldest sister - Gayathridevi passed away a few years ago, other four sisters of the scion - Meenakshidevi, Kamakshidevi, Indrakshidevi and Vishalakshidevi live here and in Bangalore.