Hyderabad: Distribution of 1 crore copies of the Bhagavad Gita among as many students and VIP break darshan (skirting the usual queue) facility for those up to 25 years of age who write the ‘Govinda Koti’, a devotional reference to Lord Venkateshwara, 1 crore times in a book — these are some of the initiatives the newly constituted Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, the trust that manages the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, has announced “to promote Hindu Sanatana Dharma in a grand manner to attract the youth into the Bhakti path”.
The TTD’s announcement Tuesday has come within days of Tamil Nadu minister and state Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi creating a furore across the country with his call to eradicate the ‘Sanatana Dharma’.
The decisions were taken under the chairmanship of Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) legislator from Tirupati, who took over as the TTD chairman for the second time last month.
The Tirupati temple is located about 125 km from Chennai and is patronised by millions of devotees from across Tamil Nadu as well.
Udhayanidhi’s statements evoked a sharp reaction from Bhumana who, speaking to reporters after the board meeting, said, “Sanatana Dharma is not a religion but a lifestyle and is not related to any one particular caste or sect. These remarks would hurt the sentiments of people and disturb the peace in the society,” terming such comments from persons holding high positions as “unwarranted and inappropriate”.
According to Bhumana, the TTD is involved in activities intended to spread and strengthen Sanatana Dharma and urged the members to dedicate themselves “to the service of Lord Venkateshwara and his devotees and take up Hindu Dharmic activities in a widespread manner.”
The Bhagavad Gita to be gifted to school, college and university students will be a 20-page booklet containing the essence of the Hindu scripture. The coveted VIP break darshan facility for youth will also include their families. Apart from the Govinda Koti, those below 25 years of age will also be granted a one-time darshan for writing the Govinda Namavali 10,01,116 times, the board said.
“The TTD prayer hall in T. Nagar (Chennai), constructed decades back, is very popular and a new Goddess Padmavathi temple, also in Chennai, was consecrated and opened to the public in March. The TTD had, in principle, decided to expand the temple construction activities, especially in neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu and Telangana,” a senior TTD official said to ThePrint.
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More temples to come up
Board decisions also include approval for construction of a Srivari temple and an information centre in Bandra, Mumbai. The funds will be donated by the trust board members.
Officials said that donations made to the Sri Venkateswara Aalayala Nirmanam Trust (Srivani), also run by the TTD board, went towards the construction of hundreds of small temples and bhajan mandirs in SC, ST, BC and fishermen colonies of Andhra Pradesh which are seen as more prone to religious conversions. Across Andhra, 320 temples have already been completed, said a TTD official.
“Since its inception in 2018 till 31 May this year, over Rs 860 crore has been donated to Srivani by devotees both in online, offline modes. The TTD had resolved to fund the construction of 2,273 temples in backward areas, allotting Rs 10 lakh for each temple,” the official said.
The TTD has also set up the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad which operates to promote, propagate and preserve Hindu Sanatana Dharma by organising spiritual discourses, dharmic and devotional programmes, according to its website.
It also organises free Tirupati tour and Lord Venkateshwara darshan for devotees from underprivileged sections during the annual Brahmotsavams event held in September-October.
A new Balaji temple in Jammu constructed by the TTD was opened for devotees in June this year while bhoomi puja for another such temple in Navi Mumbai has been held.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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