TTD Mirasi Archakas seek restoration of hereditary right

Tirupati: Mirasi (hereditary right holders) system of Tirumala temple is again grabbing the attention of everyone following the Cabinet approving Sannidhi Golla Mirasi at the famed Sri Venkateswara shrine.

Sannidhi Gollas of Yadava community at last are successful in retaining their hereditary right after a tireless fight with the support of their community even as the other such hereditary right holder Mirasi Archakas (priests) are still fighting to get back their hereditary right.

Yadava associations at various levels like district, State and national stood solidly behind the Sannidhi Golla turning it a prestigious issue for the Yadavas making it clear that they will not rest till the rights of Sannidhi Golla are restored, saw the government budge.

The Cabinet approval was naturally hailed by the leaders of Yadava associations profusely thanking Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for respecting the sentiments of Yadavas by restoring the Mirasi rights of Sannidhi Gollas. Sannidhi Golla is the one who occupies a unique place at Tirumala temple as it is he who daily opens Mahadwaram of Tirumala shrine to lead the Archaka to the sanctum to kick-start the predawn rituals before resuming darshan, observe the Yadava Associations adding that this age-old custom recognising the unique role of Gollas (Yadavas) should be retained at any cost as it is nothing but in short an enviable honour to the community.

Sannidhi Golla Padmanabha thanking Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and his government for restoring the hereditary right attributed the success to the 2 crore Yadavas in the State revealing the unflinched support of the community all over the State to their cause.

However, political pundits see the Cabinet decision as a clever move on the part of YSRCP to win over the Yadava community one of the dominant groups among the BCs which earlier backed the TDP and helped it to come to power.

Even as the Sannidhi Golla family and Yadava community is rejoicing at the government decision, the Mirasi Archakas renewed their appeal to the government to apply the same yardstick to them. Hailing the government for restoring Sannidhi Golla Mirasi at Tirumala temple, they wanted the Chief Minister to consider their long pending case also favourably.

Citing the case former chief priest Dr AV Ramana Deekshithulu, they reminded that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy himself when he was in opposition assured to reappoint him as Tirumala temple chief priest after the YSRCP was voted to power but is now given honorary advisor post with no duties or rights, said A T Narasimha Deekshithulu, a Mirasi priest whom the TTD retired against his wish after he attained 65 years on May 31, 2020.

Narasimha said the Mirasi Archakas were still running from pillar to post to get their hereditary right even after the TTD Trust Board approved it (Mirasi) in 2010 and government also issued a GO making retirement not applicable to Mirasi Archakas working in temples which has to be followed by the TTD as a quasi government institution. Citing the case of two Mirasi Archakas of Tiruchanur temple who obtained orders from High Court quashing TTD retiring them from service in 2018 December, he said it was still not implemented by TTD revealing its discrimination of Mirasi priests.

More pathetic is the case of the 14 Mirasi priests who represented after they were retired against their wish, to TTD to continue their service as the retirement is not applicable to them as per High Court orders, as well as the GO and also TTD Trust Board decision, but in vain, said Tirupati Brahmana Samajam secretary K Ajay Kumar reiterating the demand for restoring the rights of Mirasi priests in TTD.