Unholy Acts of Politicians to Holy Tirupathi Balaji Temple

AV Ramana Dikshitulu (Age 69 years) who was TTD head priest was terminated from the services of Holy Tirupathi Shrine along with three other priests viz. Narasimha Deekshitulu, Srinivasa Murthy Deekshitulu and Narayana Deekshitulu, immediately after his sensational accusations in public about misappropriations of  funds, missing of several precious pieces of jewellery, a pink diamond of Tirupathi Temple being auctioned in Geneva for Rs.500 crore. He also demanded a high level inquiry such as a CBI probe, into how temple funds were being  misused.

Incidentally, Dikshitulu had also said that crores of rupees were being diverted into other projects and had quoted: TDP MLC G. Thippeswamy from Anantapur proposed construction of a group of temples at Gudimala village in Madakasira assembly segment and sought 10 crore in funding from TTD which was duly endorsed by Endowments Department.

Further, the TTD had demolished ancient temples in the name of renovation, without any approval from authorities. He explained that taking up new constructions on ancient structures is against Agama Shastra and it is really unpardonable of the TTD’s unholy act of demolition of 1000 year old structure in the holy Tirupathi Temple with precious stones adorning them.

Another unholy act of TTD administration, according to him, was to shorten the rituals to accommodate VIP darshans apart from raising abnormally the amount of  seva tickets thereby commercializing the temple rituals. As the authorities have no respect for traditions or practices as laid down by Agamas (vedic scriptures defining traditions and rituals in the temple), it would lead to devotees in due course losing faith leading to catastrophic incidents.

The dismissed head priest’s following observations are quite revealing: “It is unfortunate we (hereditary priests), who for generations dedicated ourselves to temple service, are so helpless today. Until 1996, we were custodians of the Lord’s jewellery and maintained up-to-date records of the inventory. But, in the 22 years since Andhra government took over the reins, not once has the jewellery count been done. Of late, only the newer jewellery is given to adorn the Lord. What happened to the ancient ornaments?”

With a view to remove the present Chief Priest, the TTD Trust Board passed a resolution that all ‘mirasi archakas’ (hereditary priests) must be retired on reaching the age of 65. This decision was said to be taken following the demand put forth by 24 senior priests that ‘no retirement for hereditary priests deprives them of a chance to become the head priest’.

It is said that such restrictions of age are against the grand old traditions followed by the temple and the TTD is said to trespass into the territory of Temple Traditions which are beyond the ambit of Government control.

One TDP Minister had gone to the extent of saying: Jail Chief Priest and Thrash him!

Now, Dr.Subramanian Swamy had formed three member legal team – TG Mohandas, TR Ramesh and R.Ravi to prepare PIL to remove Government control of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam and also to reinstate the hereditary priests who were removed by TTD without any power to do so. 

 Hindus should wake up from their Kumbakarna’s Slumber to unite together to make our holy seven Hills Tirupathi Balaji Temple into a HOLY CITY just like Vatican City in Rome, Italy. 

Further, it was revealed that there were many non-Hindus as staff in the pay rolls of Tirupathi Temple Administration and still worst, TTD also having some Christians as Executive Members. When there are restrictions for non-Hindus to have darshan in the Tirupathi Bajali Temple, it is highly wrong to appoint such non-Hindus into the TTD. This is the most arrogant form of political supremacy and appeasement politics of the Andhra Government.

Let us hope that holiness of Tirupathi Balaji Temple is restored and all maladministration is set right in all earnestness. Let us also make Tirupathi Balaji Temple as HOLY CITY like Vatican without any further delay.

AWAKE INDIA – THINK INDIA THINK.