The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mandapam row: final word from Agama experts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mandapam row: final word from Agama experts

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 13. The State Government will soon constitute a committee of experts in `Agama Sastra' to seek a solution to the controversy over the demolition of `Veyyi Kalla Mandapam' at Tirumala.

In effect, it means "a take it or leave it" offer to Sri Tridandi Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami who had threatened to go on an indefinite fast seeking reconstruction of the mandapam.

The `thousand pillar mandapam' was demolished during the previous TD regime to build a `maha prakaram' in the interest of devotees. It had the approval of heads of all `mutts' and archakas too. However, Chinna Jeeyar Swami, who has been complaining of "degeneration in practice of rituals", got embroiled in the controversy with his threat.

Protests trigger move

The Congress Government initially relented and agreed to reconstruct the mantapam leading to protests from `Vaikhanasa Peetham' and the archakas of Tirumala. The Government, taken aback by the stormy protests , is now seeking a way out through `Agama Sastra.'

The committee will consist of the heads of mutts, archaka representatives and other `Agama Sastra' experts, according to the Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao. The Minister told The Hindu that the TTD Chairman, T. Subbarami Reddy, had been asked to constitute the panel at the earliest and put an end to the controversy. "We will abide by the committee's decision," the Minister said.

The officials suspect the hand of the VHP, the BJP and the TDP behind Chinna Jeeyar's move. "Several quarters are now appalled by his moves. Why did he not raise the issue when a portion of the mandapam was demolished long ago?" asked a senior official of the Endowments Department.

Our Tirupati Special Correspondent writes: Meanwhile, TTD employees launched a signature campaign against Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swami.

Signature campaign

They collected about 500 signatures against him for his alleged unseemly outburst hurting the religious sentiments of thousands of devotees of the Tirumala deity.

The employees accused Chinna Jeeyar of whipping up communal passions with his statements against other religions.

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