TTD ALL SET READY FOR 2012 ANNUAL SALAKATLA BRAHMOTSAVAMS-TTD EO

Tirumala, 16 Sep 2012(P.R.O) : The world famous pilgrim town of Tirumala has geared up to celebrate the nine-day mega religious event of annual salakatla brahmotsavams of Lord Venakteswara which are scheduled to take place from 18th September to 26th September said TTD EO Sri LV Subramanyam.

Addressing the media persons over the elaborate arrangements made by TTD for annual brahmotsavams the EO said, the Hon'ble CM of AP will present silk vastrams to Lord Venkateswara on behalf of the State Government on the first day of Brahmotsavams which commences with Dhwajarohanam on September 18. "The CM will also lay foundation stone to second phase of Tiruvenkatapatham Ring road at Tirumala mulled at an estimated cost of Rs.11cr. Similarly he will also lay foundation stone to "Sri Vakulamatha" rest house which is coming up adjacent to Nandakam Guest House with an estimated cost of Rs.25cr", he added.

Sri Subramanyam said TTD is planning to bring out Old Annaprasadam Complex for the utility of general pilgrims during Navarathri Brahmotsavams which are slated to start from October 15 to October 23. "We have constructed 116 Bath Rooms and 55 toilets for the sake of visiting pilgrims. This will be very useful to those pilgrims who come up with less baggage. Apart from this we are also planning to operate centralised cellphone and luggage keeping centre from this point and also to open up some laddu issuing counters so as to de-congest the pilgrim crowd near laddu counters", he added.

Meanwhile the EO TTD will release a series of spiritual books, pamphlets on ancient coins. inscriptions, sacred teerthams during brahmotsavams. "CM will release all these books at the Nada Neerajana Mandapam", he said.

Elaborating further on other arrangements the EO said, the RTC will run 3000 trips per day during brahmtosavams. "They will operate bus services every minute as in the case of last year. This year also we have put total ban on two-wheelers on Garuda Seva Day", EO maintained.

"Thousands of bhajan mandalis will be taking part in this brahmotsavams showcasing their artistic skills in different guises. We are also expecting musical concerts by our Asthana Vidhwans Sri Nedanuri Krishnamurthy and Dr Managalampalli Balamurali Krishna. This year also we have grands plans for a colourful expo by garden, ayurveda, photo and museum departments to attract pilgrims".

"On the security front, our vigilance and government police personnel have geared up to give full-fledged security cover. We are holding a buffer stock of 4lakhs laddus during brahmotsavams. The medical department has also taken up extra-measures in the case of any emergency situation", the EO said. 

Later Tirumala JEO Sri KS Srinivasa Raju said, TTD has cancelled all arjitha sevas during brahmotsavams. "Even we have cancelled Rs.50 on Dhwajarohanam and Garuda Seva day. Even the issuance of Rs.300 tickets also depends upon the pilgrim crowd during brahmotsavams. The prime focus is on darshan to common pilgrims which commences from 6am till the end of the day every day. Even there are no VIP darshans on the evenings of 18th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 26th of September.

President's Visit to TIRUMALA

Tirumala, Sep 09, 2012 (P.R.O): The First Citizen of the Nation, H.E. President of India Sri Pranab Mukherjee offered prayers in the world renowned famous Hindu Shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on Sunday, during his maiden visit after assuming the highest office.

On his arrival, the Hon’ble President and his entourage were accorded a grand reception by the temple priests with traditonal Is

thikapal amidst the chanting of vedic hymns and the AP Governor H.E.Sri ESL Narasimhan and AP CM Sri N.Kiran Kumar Reddy escorted him to the sanctum sanctorum on Sunday.

Earlier, the President followed the temple tradition, by offering prayers first in the Swami Pushkarini and later in temple of Sri BhuVarahaswamy before heading to main shrine.

Inside the sanctum sanctorum, one of the chief priests of Tirumala temple Sri AV Ramana Dikshitulu explained to the Hon’ble President about the significance of Lord and the jewels adorned to the presiding deity. The President of the nation spent few minutes praying before the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara and later reached Ranganayakula Mandapam where he was accorded Vedasirvachanam by temple priests.

SAKSHATKARA VAIBHAVOTSAVAM AT SRINIVASA MANGAPURAM FROM 24 TH TO 26 TH JUNE

TIRUPATI, JUNE 20: The three-day annual Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavams will take place at the temple of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy in Srinivasa Mangapuram from June 24 th to June 26 th in a grand manner.

This festival is considered to be as important on par with the annual brahmotsavams. The temple administration of TTD has all set to celebrate this festival in a big way this year considering its significance.

As per historical evidences, the Sasanams engraved ‘on the right door-jamb wall of the entrance of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Mangapuram village, dated 22nd March, 1510A.D., the Temple was brought to worship by doing “Jeernoddarana” by Chinna Thirumalacharyulu, the grand son of Saint Poet Thallapaka Annamcharyulu

In 1940, an Archaka by name Sundararaja, from Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu has came to the Village Mangapuram, saying that Lord Srinivasa has appeared in his dream and told to bring the temple to past glory which was in dilapidated condition by performing Dhoopa Deepa Naivedhya Aradhana and disappeared”.

Archaka Sundararaja then cleared all the debris in and around the Temple with the help of village elders and did First Pooja on 11th July 1940 ‘Ashada Suddha Sasti Day’, said to be the day or muhurtham as ordered by the Lord Himself in his dream.

To mark the auspicious day of revival of nitya pooja kainkaryams as decided by Lord Himself, TTD has been conducting this festival as ‘Sakshatkara Vaibhavamu’ on Ashada Suddha Sasti Day in the month of June/July of every year.

The three day festival begins on 24 th of June with temple cleansing programme – “Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam” on 21 st June. Following this ritual there will be Tiruppavada seva on 21 st June. However TTD has also cancelled Arjitha Kalyanotsavam and Arjitha Brahmotsavam on these three days in the temple. On the first day the important events include Snapana Tirumanjanam in the morning, Unjal Seva in the evening with Tiruchi Utsavam in the night. While on the second day there will be Hanumantha Vahanam procession in the evening and on the last day the Lord takes pleasure ride on Garuda Vahana marking the completion of the three-day festival.

Proposal to recommend recognition of LORD VENKATESHWARA TEMPLE in Tirupati as a monument of National importance........

(ZEE News Wednesday, May 09, 2012)
  Hyderabad: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is considering a proposal to recommend recognition of the famous Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati as a monument of national importance in view of its archaeological, epigraphical and historical background and cultural significance.

The proposal is being considered by the ASI and it is likely to make the recommendation to the Union Ministry of Culture, K K Sharma, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, said.

He, however, said a timeframe cannot be put on when the proposal is likely to be made formally to the government as the process takes time.

Declaring the ancient temple, located atop the Tirumala hills, as a protected monument by the ASI would go a long way in conserving its archaeological value and heritage, Sharma said.

The matter could be expedited if the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the governing body for the temple, agrees to the proposal for making the temple as a protected monument, he observed.


The ASI feels that dismantling of the historical thousand pillar mantapam at Tirumala and the gold-plating of the outer walls of the 'garbha griha', where inscriptions exist, as per the 'Ananta Swarnamayam' scheme are against archaeological norms.

Separately, the ASI, in an RTI reply to B K S R Ayyangar, a social activist based at Eluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, has favoured several steps to ensure the temple's protection.

The petitioner had sought information over action initiated by the ASI regarding recognition of Lord Venkateswara Temple as a monument under ASI.

In the reply, the ASI said the temple may be considered for protection by ASI as a monument of national importance and also talked about dismantling of the thousand pillared mantapam as a violation.

Further, it favoured that any activity at the temple which is related to the archaeological aspect be informed to the Archaeological Survey of India and Department of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh to review the pros and cons as well the archaeological norms thoroughly and recommend the necessary inputs for execution.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) may provide a space for archaeology by nominating the Director General or representative of ASI and Department of Archaeology and Museums as a member in the Trust Board which takes policy decisions for the benefit of devotees and the temple to prevent any action violating archaeological/heritage norms at the policy level itself, the ASI said.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam may provide the fund for protecting cultural heritage and monuments which are in need of attention, it said.

Observing that the temple is visited by about 50,000 devotees per day on an average and about four lakhs during festivities, the ASI commended the way TTD is dealing with all aspects of the temple administration.

It is necessary to have an archaeological wing to review and recommend suitable procedure in view of archaeological norms wherever necessary, ASI said.

"The archaeological wing is to be adequately equipped with technical team headed by a Director. The decision for betterment of the facilities for the devotees are to be reviewed there only to avoid delay. Since, a museum also exists behind the main temple all branches are to be brought under the archaeological wing. This may solve the problem of violating the laws to some extent," it said.

DIAL YOUR EO

Tirumala, 02 March 2012(P.R.O) "With an aim to propagate bhakti among the people, TTD will organise Srinivasa Kalyanams not only in the important cities of the country but also across the globe", said Sri LV Subramanyam, Executive Officer of TTD.

In his early marks before the commencement of monthly "Dial your EO" programme which held in Tirumala on Friday at Annamaiah Bhavan he said, over two lakh people witnessed Srinivasa Kalyanams which held at Khatmandu in the country of Nepal on February 25. "The head of the country and ambassador were very much impressed with this celestial marraige and even asked us to perform every year. They said they have already following some darshan and queue line mechanisms adopted by TTD in their Pasupathinath temple. They have also requested us to give suggestions to set up Kalyanamandapam and Veda Pathashala in their country", EO said.

The EO said TTD is mulling to perform series of Srinivasa Kalyanams in USA also and we will send a team of officers soon to America to list out the places to perform these celestial marriages, he added. "In the recent times even several foreigners have been visiting Tirumala and offering prayers in the temple. Very recently we had devotees from Japan, Itally and Russia who also sought TTD to organise Srinivasa Kalyanams in their country also which is a welcoming gesture", EO maintained.

Later he said, TTD has decided to renovate its two museums located at Tirupati and Tirumala and invited the advices of experts in that field. "Very soon we will take up the face lift works of these two museums', EO said.

Sri Subramanyam also said, TTD has sought the permission of ASI to take up some developmental works in Lord Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple located at Srinivasa Mangapuram. "Thousands of devotees converged and witnessed the annual brahmotsavams at Srinivasa Mangapuram during last month. Keeping in view the day by day increase in pilgrim influx we have decided to take up some developmental activities for which we have sought the permission of ASI", he added.

The EO said, the pilgrim influx to Tirumala has been increasing by many folds every year. "TTD can facilitate good, satisfactory darshan to the pilgrims only if the number does not exceed 40thousand to 50thousands on any given day. But if the influx crosses 60thousand plus mark it has becoming difficult task for TTD to provide satisfactory darshan to the visiting pilgrims. In order to provide good darshan, TTD also have to follow restricting pilgrim numbers to fifty thousands like in Vaishnavo Devi temple. But whether people will accept this sytem for TTD is a million dollor question. So I appeal to the people to write letters to EO, TTD, Tirupati giving their opinions regarding this issue which is going to be very crucial in the coming years", he added.

Later addressing a pilgrim caller Prasad from Tirupati, EO said TTD is already in the process of developing Dhyan mandirs in Paruveta Mandapam and at Tarigonda Vengamamba Samadhi areas in Tirumala. Answering another caller Anjaneyulu from Hyderabad, the EO said TTD will look into his suggestion of setting up lifts and european toilets in Varahaswamy and other guest houses for the sake of aged pilgrims.

JEO Tirumala Sri KS Srinivasa Raju, CVSO Sri MK Singh and other officials of TTD were also present.