Bengaluru: Bhanu Prakash Reddy, a member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) which oversees the affairs of the Tirupati temple, has opposed Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s proposal to change existing protocols for the ‘Nithya Aarthi’ or daily lamp-offering, potentially turning one of the most sacred Hindu religious places of worship into a political battlefield.
Reddy, who is also the spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said that he would introduce a resolution in Tuesday’s scheduled TTD board meeting to formally oppose Shivakumar’s plans.
“These are all privileges extended to the Mysuru Maharaja. This is not for you, your Cabinet colleagues, MLAs or officers. This is not the system. So, you withdraw your words. Tomorrow a board meeting is going to happen, I will definitely raise this content and definitely oppose this. Because this is a religious place, please do not convert this to a political platform,” Reddy said in a video statement Monday.
The previous day, Shivakumar had proposed to amend existing protocols, allowing people’s representatives from Karnataka to participate in the ‘Nithya Aarthi’ at the temple.
Speaking to reporters Monday in Bengaluru, he reiterated his proposal. “Since the time of the Maharajas, the first aarti in Tirupati has been for Karnataka. There is an official who receives the aarti every day. Instead of that official, people’s representatives, judges, officials, MPs, mayors, tahsildars and people from our state who go for darshan from here will be given the opportunity,” he said.
He added that this amendment will be for people’s representatives irrespective of party affiliation. “There are specific guidelines for this, and this opportunity will be given as per them. Our decision is only for the aarti issue. Otherwise, all the guidelines will be as per the Tirupati Administrative Council. We will not interfere with their guidelines,” the Karnataka chief minister said.
‘Chief Minister is misinformed’
The ‘Nithya Aarthi’ is part of the early morning rituals at Tirupati. Karnataka is currently represented by a ‘Peshkar’ of the Mysuru Choultry, TTD authorities told ThePrint.
“Whatever D.K. Shivakumar has raised, it is not fair. We have given the privilege to the Mysuru Maharaja not D.K. Shivakumar or politicians,” Reddy told ThePrint.
He added that the ‘Nithya Aarthi’ is a privilege given to the Mysuru Maharaja and ancient monasteries like Sringeri, Udupi and Srirangam among others. “This is not D.K Shivakumar’s trust, this is Thirumala Tirupati Devasthanam,” Reddy added.
TTD authorities told ThePrint that a special officer from Karnataka is allowed entry into the ‘Nithya Aarthi’ and some VVIP protocols for the ‘Mangala Aarthi’ performed later in the day. “Some of the recognised Maths (monasteries) and Peethas are given the honour of performing ‘Nithya Aarthi’ everyday,” Ramana Dikshitulu, a former honorary chief priest at TTD, told ThePrint Monday.
He added that the Peshkar from Mysuru Choultry brings the Aarthi every day, which is presented to the deity.
Shivakumar is very religious and regularly visits temples and other places of worship.
He said it was during his mentor S.M. Krishna’s time that a Karnataka Trust was formed at Tirupati with Shivakumar as its chairman to build a grand structure at the Hindu religious site. “But our government’s term ended before that could be done. Since I was not continued, that work could not be carried out. There was a seven-acre plot there, granted back in the era of the Maharajas,” he recalled.
Dikshitulu termed Shivakumar’s proposal “absurd”.
“That (proposal) is absurd. He never knew about it or understood the procedures here. It is just a casual remark, that is all, nothing important. Generally we do not change the procedures here,” he said.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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