08-09-2004, 04:40 PM
09 August, 2004
1000 Pillared Mandap and Sri Tridandi Swamiji
As you are aware the 1000 pillared Mandapam was brought down in one stroke by the TTD some time ago. Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji was very vocal in his opposition to this move as this wiped out the 700 years plus of History from the sacred Hill.
There were plans by the government to bring down the Pedda Jeeyar Mutt as also the Hathiramji Mutt, to facilitate the construction of the Mahaprakaram of the Temple (expansion project).
Despite strong opposition from Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the Devasthanam and the Government of Andhra Pradesh went on ruthlessly destroying ancient structures on the Sacred Hill under the guise of providing extra amenities to the pilgrims.
Vexed with the problem, following steps were taken by the Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji today which has brought the desired results:
1. His devotees marched to Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad and presented a memorandum to the Governor against senseless destruction of ancient monuments in the Tirumala Hills.
2. Swamiji leaked out to the press that He might go on a Hunger strike if the Government did not rescind its stand by the 11th of this month.
3. This brought the Endowment Minister to His doorstep this afternoon. After consultations with the Swamiji the Department issued a press statement rescinding its stand on construction of Mahaprakaram by demolishing further monuments. In addition, the Government has also given a direction to the TTD that the 1000 pillared Mandap has to be reconstructed using the same pillars and restored to its pristine glory at the very site that it stood. The Press statement released by the government is as under:
GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO RECONSTRUCT VEYYI KALLA MANDAPAM IN TIRUMALA
No: 1237 dated 09 Aug 2004
Government after taking note of public opinion and the sentiments of devotees across the country, have decided to restore the Veyyi Kalla Mandapam to its pristine glory. The restored Mandapam will have all the thousand pillars as of yore, many of the pillars had collapsed and had been lost due to efflux of time. The restoration shall ensure that all geographical features should also be restored to the same condition as before. This includes the Mitta. The Mandapam will be restored to its original location. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was directed to take up the work immediately. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was also directed not to take up the construction of Mahaprakaram according to a memo issued by the Revenue Department.
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER I&PR DEPARTMENT, HYDERABAD
Text ends
The ETV news at 9-00 P.M. showed the Endowment Minister, Sri Satyanarayana Rao and the TTD Chairman, Sri T.Subbirami Reddy in consultation with Sri Tridandi Swamiji along with the former Joint Executive Officer, TTD Sri Balasubramaniam. Following is the translation of Swamijiâs interview to the TV channel:
QUOTE
âA mandapam built some 600-1000 years ago has been reduced to rubble. If a Christian or Muslim institution was brought down in such a manner, thousands of heads would have been hacked. This attack is happening only in case of Hindu Temples and religious institutions. And blood would have flowed freely on the streets. This should remain a sacred Temple, not a picnic spot as officials intended to convert it. I hold the media and the officials involved also responsible for state of affairs regarding Hindu religious matters. They cannot wash off their sins by any explanations. I advise the media to make balanced reporting in futureâ
UNQUOTE
I am also happy to inform you that the auction of 0.56 acres of land belonging to the Hathiramji Mutt, Tirumala (land is situated at Tirupati) has also been cancelled. I understand that there has been such a pressure on the Mutt and the Government that they have called it off under a face saving formula that they got a bid for Rs36 lakhs which is well below the market value. But a permanent solution has to be found to stop such future auction plans by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Namaste,
S.V.Badri
1000 Pillared Mandap and Sri Tridandi Swamiji
As you are aware the 1000 pillared Mandapam was brought down in one stroke by the TTD some time ago. Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji was very vocal in his opposition to this move as this wiped out the 700 years plus of History from the sacred Hill.
There were plans by the government to bring down the Pedda Jeeyar Mutt as also the Hathiramji Mutt, to facilitate the construction of the Mahaprakaram of the Temple (expansion project).
Despite strong opposition from Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the Devasthanam and the Government of Andhra Pradesh went on ruthlessly destroying ancient structures on the Sacred Hill under the guise of providing extra amenities to the pilgrims.
Vexed with the problem, following steps were taken by the Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji today which has brought the desired results:
1. His devotees marched to Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad and presented a memorandum to the Governor against senseless destruction of ancient monuments in the Tirumala Hills.
2. Swamiji leaked out to the press that He might go on a Hunger strike if the Government did not rescind its stand by the 11th of this month.
3. This brought the Endowment Minister to His doorstep this afternoon. After consultations with the Swamiji the Department issued a press statement rescinding its stand on construction of Mahaprakaram by demolishing further monuments. In addition, the Government has also given a direction to the TTD that the 1000 pillared Mandap has to be reconstructed using the same pillars and restored to its pristine glory at the very site that it stood. The Press statement released by the government is as under:
GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO RECONSTRUCT VEYYI KALLA MANDAPAM IN TIRUMALA
No: 1237 dated 09 Aug 2004
Government after taking note of public opinion and the sentiments of devotees across the country, have decided to restore the Veyyi Kalla Mandapam to its pristine glory. The restored Mandapam will have all the thousand pillars as of yore, many of the pillars had collapsed and had been lost due to efflux of time. The restoration shall ensure that all geographical features should also be restored to the same condition as before. This includes the Mitta. The Mandapam will be restored to its original location. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was directed to take up the work immediately. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was also directed not to take up the construction of Mahaprakaram according to a memo issued by the Revenue Department.
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER I&PR DEPARTMENT, HYDERABAD
Text ends
The ETV news at 9-00 P.M. showed the Endowment Minister, Sri Satyanarayana Rao and the TTD Chairman, Sri T.Subbirami Reddy in consultation with Sri Tridandi Swamiji along with the former Joint Executive Officer, TTD Sri Balasubramaniam. Following is the translation of Swamijiâs interview to the TV channel:
QUOTE
âA mandapam built some 600-1000 years ago has been reduced to rubble. If a Christian or Muslim institution was brought down in such a manner, thousands of heads would have been hacked. This attack is happening only in case of Hindu Temples and religious institutions. And blood would have flowed freely on the streets. This should remain a sacred Temple, not a picnic spot as officials intended to convert it. I hold the media and the officials involved also responsible for state of affairs regarding Hindu religious matters. They cannot wash off their sins by any explanations. I advise the media to make balanced reporting in futureâ
UNQUOTE
I am also happy to inform you that the auction of 0.56 acres of land belonging to the Hathiramji Mutt, Tirumala (land is situated at Tirupati) has also been cancelled. I understand that there has been such a pressure on the Mutt and the Government that they have called it off under a face saving formula that they got a bid for Rs36 lakhs which is well below the market value. But a permanent solution has to be found to stop such future auction plans by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Namaste,
S.V.Badri