TTD plans to install foot over bridge at railway station April 20, 2012 17:40
With large number of people arriving at Tirupati round the clock, the streets encircling railway station and Vishnunivasam (the accommodation down hills) will be filled with sea of devotees and chaos that not only creates confusion to pedestrians and obstruction to traffic but also enough scope for burglars and pickpocketers. Keeping in view the same, Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD) came out with new plan. The board has decided to construct a foot over bridge between the railway station and Vishnunivasam. TTD EO, L V Subramanyam has said that all plans were made for setting up foot over bridge and they would soon call for tenders. Also, TTD and railway officials-who took part in a meet in Tirupati to overlook the development of Tirupati railway station and problems of devotees-have said that a notice board will be displayed at Tirupati railway station that would give completed information to devotees pertaining to TTD including seva timings and availability of tickets. They have also said that they were in a thought to remove cottages that have become old. Also, 10 touch screen enquiry counters would be set up at the railway station for the convenience of the public. (Phani)
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Jayaprada in Tirupaty April 03, 2012 13:46
The Tinsel world glamour doll and Rajya Sabha member Jayaprada was at Tirupaty to have the Lord’s darshan on Tuesday. Early today the leader came for darshan and was given due honors, in the temple of Lord Shri Venkaterswara on the seven hills. Today is the Leader’s birthday. Late last evening Jayaprada climbed the steps to the temple and relaxed on the hills. Early in the morning she visited the temple during the VIP breah time. Jayaprada was initiated into the Telugu Desam Party by her former co-star N.T.Rama Rao in 1994. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996. Later after differences with Babu, she joined the Samajwadi party. Here also her tenure was short as she was expelled from the part along with her mentor Amar Singh.
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Massive corruption racket unearthed in Tirumala March 29, 2012 15:01
The daily claims that '1+1' is a code word used to trick visitors and pilgrims in Tirupati. According to the code, a pilgrim has to pay double of what he is entitled for a service. A massive corruption racket has been unearthed in Tirumala, Tirupati. Senior temple officials claimed that corruption can be found in each and every level of Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD) which is believed to be one of the richest temple trust boards in India handling Rs 2,000 crore annual budget. A leading national daily quoted the senior officials as saying, "It is (Tirupati) a mini state in itself, giving rise to corruption at every level." The daily claims that '1+1' is a code word used to trick visitors and pilgrims in Tirupati. According to the code, a pilgrim has to pay double of what he is entitled for a service. The newspaper quoted a visitor, Madhava Reddy saying, "Though an AC room costs Rs 1,500, I had to spend Rs 5,000 since they took Rs 1,500 as the commission towards accommodation (under 1+1 scheme) and Rs 2,000 more for darshan and prasadam." Meanwhile, a former TTD executive said, "its institutionalized corruption as an artificial demand is created by the staff in cahoots with brokers." An advocate Srinivas claimed, "Thousands of books are printed at the TTD printing press. Corruption in this wing alone runs into Rs 150 crore."
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Gutkha sachet, plastic covers found in TTD Laddus March 01, 2012 13:21
When you visit Tirumala next time, watch out for any unwanted material in the Laddu Prasadam you may purchase as the Laddus are often found to contain non-eatable stuff. We hear that a devotee got an empty gutkha sachet and a used plastic cover in two different Laddus Wednesday evening. Reports said one Praveen, who is employed with Lapakshi Handicrafts Emporium on Tirumala, purchased 10 laddus from a counter. To his horror, he found two Laddus unfit for consumption as they contained a gutkha sachet and a plastic cover respectively. Praveen called newspersons and showed the contaminated Laddus and when media persons questioned about the quality being maintained by the TTD kitchen, the officials feigned ignorance of any such incident. “We have not received any complaint so far,” they said simply. (J)
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HC Seeks Report from TTD on House-sites for Employees February 29, 2012 17:05
The High Court on Tuesday called for details from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on allotment of house-sites and plots to its employees. A division bench, comprising chief justice Madan B. Lokur and justice PV Sanjay Kumar, was dealing with a writ petition filed by three devotees challenging the resolution of the TTD and the permission of the state government to alienate immovable properties of Lord Venkateswara in favour of private individuals who include TTD employees. The petitioners requested the court to declare the alienation of lands belonging to the Lord at SV Poor Home (25 acres), SV Dairy Farm (20 acres), Vinayaknagar (6 acres) and SGS Arts College (6 acres) in the name of house-sites to employees as illegal.
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Fire accidents at Tirumala, Tiruchanur February 20, 2012 18:32
Two fire accidents at two important temples marked the Siva Ratri celebrations today in AP and devotees consider it as a bad omen. The first fire accident took place in the Laddu making Kitchen (called Potu traditionally) at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple at Tiruchanur. The fire, emanating from a stove, soon spread to other equipment and the entire kitchen, including thousands of Laddus kept for distribution among devotees, was reduced to ashes in no time. Officials stopped darshan for an hour because of the incident and ordered an inquiry into the incident. The second fire accident, also a major one, occurred in the mini commercial complex opposite Ram Bageecha Guest House near the Balaji temple on Tirumala and officials suspected short circuit as the main reason for the fire. Dozens of shops were gutted in the fire and devotees ran helter-skelter with fear after the fire broke out. Several fire engines were pressed into service to extinguish the fire. The property loss was initially put at Rs.10 lakh. 5 devotees killed in stampede Five devotees were killed in a stampede at the famous temple of Lord Siva at Junaghad in Gujarat this morning. Lakhs of devotees have visited this temple today on account of Maha Siva Ratri. (JUBS)
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Goda Devi Malas Taken on a grand Procession to Srinivasa Mangapuram February 17, 2012 16:36
The sacred garlands of Sri Goda Devi were taken on a grand colourful procession to Srinivasa Mangapuram from Sri Govinda Raja Swamy temple in Tiruapati on Thursday. TTD Executive Officer Sri LV Subrahmanyam flagged off the celestial procession of Goda Garlands which reached Srinivasa Mangapuram via Town Club and Perumallapalle routes. According to legend Andal Goda sanctified her life in the service of Lord Venkateswara. As a mark of tribute, every year Goda malas (floral garlands) are being decorated to Lord Venkateswara on Garuda Seva day of annual brahmotsavams. As Lord Sri Kalyana Venakteswara is often considered as yet another form of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala situated at Srinivasa Mangapuram, the sacred garlands of Goda Devi also be offered to Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy every year. As the mega event of Garuda Seva is all set to take place in Srinivasa Mangapuram on Thursday evening, the sacred malas of Goda Devi were taken on a colourful procession all along the streets of Tirupati and Srinivasa Mangapuram amidst the chanting of Govinda Namas, Bhajans by artistes etc. in a grand manner. Later these holy garlands were adorned to the presiding deity of Lord Sri Kalyana Venkateswara at Srinivasa Mangapuram. Along with TTD EO, JEO Tirupati Sri P Venkatrami Reddy, CVSO Sri MK Singh, Spl Gr DyEO Smt Surya Kumari, DyEO(Local Temples) Sri Gopalakrishna, VGO Sri Manohar and other officials, staffs, students, locals and pilgrims also took part in the procession.
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ANNUAL BRAHMOTSAVAM BEGINS IN SRI KAPILESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE February 14, 2012 11:45
Temple priests of Sri Kapileswara Swamy performed " Dwajarohanam " (the traditional hoisting of the temple flag atop the flagpost) as mark of begining of Brahmotsavam in Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati on Monday morning. Amid beating of the traditional percussion instruments and the chanting of hymns from the scriptures, the chief priest hoisted the flag with an image of `Nandi' atop the `dhwajasthambham on the auspious Meena Lagnam at 9.30am.' Sri L.V.Subramanyam, Executive Officer, Sri P.Venkatrami Reddy, Joint Executive Officer, Sri Jagadeeswara Reddy, Executive Engineer and others took part in the `homam' that followed the event.
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Fake medicines worth Rs 1 Cr seized in Tirupati February 08, 2012 16:30
Drug inspectors in Tirupati, accompanied by police, today raided some houses and medical shops at Leela Mahal Centre in the town and seized illegally stored medical samples and fake medicines worth more than Rs.1 Cr. Sources said the officials raided the houses and shops on a solid tip off. The drug officials have arrested a person by name Veeraiah in this connection and are questioning him. The action of the drug officials comes after a series of complaints by the public about the supply of fake medicines in the town. More details of this scam may see the light of the day in the near future. (JUBS)
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TTD to discuss China Jeer proposals February 04, 2012 12:26
Reacting cautiously to the tirade of the Swami China Jeer against the TTD administration, the TTD Trust Board Chairman Mr Kanumuri Bapiraju said the administration would work with utmost care and sincerity in running the temple affairs henceforth. Addressing a media conference after the Swami launched his frontal attack on the Trust Board in his presence, Bapiraju said the issues raised by Swami would be discussed in the Board meeting. “I never hankered after this post but it came to me. I assure I will render service to the Lord in all humility and without selfishness,” asserted Bapiraju. Referring to the suggestion of Jeer Swami that the temple should be closed after 10 pm in the night at least for two hours, Bapiraju promised to discuss the issue seriously in the Board meeting and take appropriate steps taking into consideration the pros and cons. “We will draw the required strength from the spiritual teachers and act accordingly and no one should doubt our intentions in rendering sincere services to the feet of the Lord,” said Bapiraju. Jeer launches Tirumala Padayatra Swami China Jeer, who launched the Vishnu Sahasra Nama Paaraayana Yagna (Recitation of Vishnu Sahasra Namas) in Tirupati in the morning, later led a Padayatra to Tirumala through the footpath. Hundreds of devotees participated in the programme. “We shall encourage more and more people to walk to the Tirumala for the darshan of the Lord,” the Swami said on this occasion. (JUBS)
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Tirumala temple should close for 2 hours at night: Jeer February 04, 2012 12:15
In a repeated outburst against the TTD Trust Board, Swami China Jeer castigated the TTD administration today for pulling down the thousand pillar hall (Veyyi Kalla Mandapam) on Tirumala hills and said the AP state has started facing turmoil after the destruction of the structure. “The suffering in the state has started after the Mantapam destruction on Tirumala and it is showing its influence on the nation also,” the Swami said speaking on the occasion of Vishnu Sahasra Nama Paaraayana Yagna (Recitation of Vishnu Sahasra Namas) in Tirupati. “The sanctity of the Lord Venkateswara is being destroyed,” lamented the Swamiji. The programme was attended by the TTD chairman Mr Kanumuri Bapiraju. ---------------------------------------------------------------------China Jeer sees Veyyi Kalla MandapamDestruction behind AP troubles---------------------------------------------------------------------- Demanding the arrest of officers who destroyed the Veyyi Kalla Mandapam, the Vaishnava seer said his intention was not to find fault with any one. “Logic will not pay in the temple administration. Only those who know about the Tirumala and its sanctity should find place in the TTD Board,” he said taking objection to the composition of the Board with politicians and businessmen. Observing that Darshan after 10 PM during nights is not advisable, the Vijayawada-based Swami said there must be at least a two-hour break of darshan at night time to allow the Lord to have rest. “The TTD forgot the fact that the Lord will be disturbed if the doors are open during nights,” he said adding that people who don’t know anything about the temple greatness are at the helm. The Swami pointed out that the conduct of Kalyanotsavams of the Lord outside Tirumala is also not good. 5 star, 7 star hotels on Tirumala The Swami questioned the need of having five and seven star hotels on the Tirumala Hills saying it will only help in the further degradation of the sanctity. “Are you going to Tirumala for worshipping and praying the Lord or for some luxuries?” asked the Swami angrily. (JUBS)
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OVER TWO LAKHS WITNESS RATHASAPTHAMI January 31, 2012 16:47
Over two lakh pilgrims from all over the country witnessed the grandeur of the processional deity Lord Sri Malayapppa Swamy in different guises on the seven sacred vehicles as a part of the Surya Jayanthi Mahotsavam-‘Ratha Sapthami’ festival held at Tirumala on Monday. The festival is being observed on the holy hills annually for the last several centuries where the Lord starting from Dawn to Dusk bless the pilgrims with his voluminous charm. The festival commenced with the procession of ‘Surya Prabha Vahana’ and ended with ‘Chandra Prabha Vahana’ with Chinna Sesha, Garuda, Hanuman, Kalpavriksha and Sarvabhupala Vahanas in between. Sudarshana Chakra Snanam was also performed by 2pm. All the galleries in the four mada streets are full to their capacities with pilgrim influx. The annual festival of Rathasapthami appeared like mini brahmotsavams with the heavy pilgrim crowd. The floral decorations added special attraction to the festival. TTD Board chief Sri Kanumuru Bapiraju, EO Sri LV Subramanyam, board member Sri Muthyam Reddy, MP Sri Chinta Mohan, JEOs Sri KS Srinivasa Raju, Sri P Venkatrami Reddy, CVSO Sri MK Singh and other officers were also present.
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