Tonsuring – the act of shaving one’s head to propitiate God – is a long standing ritual associated with most of the ancient Hindu temples in south India. As per the Vaishnavite tradition, devotees offer their hair to the Lord to symbolize effacing of the ego. Dr. Veerendra Heggade’s value for the ritual inspired him to build a centralized tonsuring system which has been put in place at a huge building at the entrance of the temple. There is no sort of discrimination based on one’s caste while rendering Shri Mudi, all the devotees are entitled to follow this ritual.

The pilgrims who are summoned by the god due to their materialistic woes, pledge to Lord Manjunatheshwara to lose a bodily part- Mudi (Hair) symbolizing giving up on materialism to please the lord. If people wish to get tonsured, they have to visit Seva counter at Shrimudi and pay a fee; the staff workers then remove their hair in a medically safe manner. Post the tonsuring process, pilgrims head to the Nethravati River to purify themselves. On offering Shri Mudi, the pilgrims attain satisfaction, realization of self and a conscious soul.

Timings:
Sunday and Monday
Morning :05 Am to 03 Pm
Evening : 05Pm to 07 Pm

Tuesday to Saturday
Morning :06 Am to 02 Pm
Evening :05 Pm to 07 Pm