‘Tilak’ compulsory for Tirupati temple staff

Tirupati: Amid a raging controversy over evangelical activities here at the world-famous Hindu temple town, temple authorities Wednesday made it mandatory for all employees to sport a ’tilak’.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of Lord Venkateswara temple, has issued direction to all its 10,000 employees to sport a ’tilak’ (mark of auspiciousness put on the forehead).

The move came amid allegations that some employees were helping in evangelical activities like distributing pamphlets among pilgrims visiting the temple located on Tirumala Hills.

The authorities of India’s richest temple hope that by sporting a ’tilak’ the employees would be expressing their firm faith in Hindu religion and desist from any move, which violates the sanctity of the place.

TTD took the step as pressure was mounting from different quarters especially right wing groups to curb the Christian missionary activities in the temple town.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Bandaru Dattatreya Wednesday said his party would raise the issue of evangelical activities at Tirumala and other major Hindu pilgrim centres in Andhra Pradesh in Parliament.

The BJP leader alleged that ever since Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (a Christian) came to power in the state two and half years ago, the activities of Christian missionaries had increased.

He demanded that the government withdraw the proposed the ropeway project, which violate the sanctity of the Tirumala temple. He alleged that some employees of TTD were helping the missionaries in their activities.

Dattatreya alleged that the government ignored the report of Justice Bhikshapathi, which pointed out that Christian missionaries were propagating their religion on the hills. According to the report, nearly 42 Christian families were carrying out religious activities in Tirumala.

TTD’s executive officer A.P.V.N. Sharma, however, claimed that there was not a single Christian family residing in the area. He said a house-to-house search was conducted by TTD following the allegations.

Sharma clarified that the TTD writ ran on all the seven hills of Tirumala. He also clarified that non-Hindu religious activities were strictly banned on these hills.

The official said non-Hindu employees of TTD would be moved to non-temple departments and if non-Hindus were found living on the hills would be moved to Tirupati.

One of the richest shrines in the world and compared with Vatican City, the temple draws more than 50,000 devotees every day.

Lord Venkateswara is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills as Tirumala lies atop a group of the seven hills in the Nallamalai range of Eastern ghats.

Every rich Hindu visits the place at least once in a year or a poor once in a lifetime.

For the victory in elections and success in business to child, thousands throng with their wishes. Upon the fulfilment of these desires, they offer gold, cash and other valuables to God.

Believed constructed in 1570 AD, the temple earns Rs.5 billion annually through the daily offerings by devotees, also funds a university besides other institutions.

The temple is also famous for the largest collection of human hair. Every devotee has to get his head shaved for the rituals and the temple management earns a huge income through hair auction.