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TTD strictly committed to following temple traditions: Anil Kumar Singhal
In a belated damage control move, the TTD on Sunday officially denied the allegations of former Tirumala temple chief priest A V Ramana Deekhithulu and also the reports that appeared in a section of media on the status of many rare and precious ornaments of Lord Venkateswara.Â
Tirupati: In a belated damage control move, the TTD on Sunday officially denied the allegations of former Tirumala temple chief priest A V Ramana Deekhithulu and also the reports that appeared in a section of media on the status of many rare and precious ornaments of Lord Venkateswara.
The TTD also went one step ahead to display the ruby-studded Haram before the media to establish that the ornament was not clandestinely sold away as appeared in a section of the media.
The TTD also took the media representatives into the shrine to see for themselves that there was no dismantlement of the original Potu (temple kitchen) as alleged.
TTD Executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal along with Tirumala Joint Executive Officer K S Sreenivasa Raju addressing the media at Tirumala on Sunday asserted that all the jewels were being properly maintained and added that Justice Wadhwa Committee also in its report confirmed it.
The Committee in its report clearly stated that all the jewels were being maintained properly and all the items were recorded in the temple Tiruvabharanam register. The EO pointed out that the committee also mentioned that even the broken pieces of stones were preserved as ‘Mulles’ (pieces of stones tied in a piece of cloth) and mentioned in the register which clearly shows the transparency of the Jewel record.
He also said the committee report stated that all the jewels donated to Lord Venkateswara were intact. He declared that the TTD was ready even for public display of jewels to dispel the air of doubts surrounding the safety of jewels, if the Agama advisors permit them to do so, apparently revealing how much the TTD was shaken on the series of adverse reports following Ramana Dekshithulu’s allegations.
He also elaborated on the pink diamond which is said to have broken during Brahmotsava Garuda Seva in 2001, later gone "missing" as alleged by Ramana Deekshitulu. The EO said that Justice Jagannadha Rao Committee had submitted a report which stated that the broken pieces of the pink diamond were in the custody of peishkar, Tirumala temple official).
The Jewel was donated by Maharaja of Mysore in 1945. Former EO of TTD IYR Krishna Rao also submitted a report to the then State government in 2010, stating that the broken piece was a ruby and not that of a ‘Pink Diamond’, he added.
EO also clarified that the retirement age for Archakas was 65 years, as per GOs 1171 and 611 issued in 2013 and three priests Narasimha Deekshithulu, Bhaktavatsala Deekshithulu and Ramachandra Deekshithulu retired after attaining 65 years of age as per the GO. He clarified that no decisions were taken with vengeance against anyone.
“Even the Nitya Puja and Darshan system were also established in Tirumala temple based on the report submitted by New Management Committee on March 1 in 1979. If the Agamas permit we are even ready for live telecast of the Arjitha Sevas performed to Lord for the sake of pilgrim public,” he informed.
On the repairs and alteration works of Potu taken up recently inside the temple, the EO said, from time to time, it requires small changes keeping in view the larger interests of pilgrims. Even in 2001 and 2007 also some repair works were taken up in Potu.
“Whenever we contemplate some alterations inside temple, we approach our Agama advisors for their opinion. We consulted Agama advisor NAK Sunderavaradan, Sri Pedda Jiyar Swamy and even AV Ramana Deekshitulu, who have given their consent to take forward the repair works,” Singhal said.
The EO said the allegations of irregularities at Tirumala temple pained him and added that the decision to retire the Archakas should not be construed as a decision against archakas or a particular community (Brahmins) and reiterated that the ultimate goal of everyone working in TTD was to safeguard the interests of rich tradition of the temple and instill confidence among the multitude of pilgrims with impeccable services.
"Our motto is to satisfy all the pilgrims with hassle free darshan and other amenities to our best,” he said.
