TTD board disappoints hereditary priests in Tirupati

Tirupati: The terribly disappointed the retired hereditary priests of Tirumala and other temples managed by TTD as the board failed to take a decision on their reinstatement in its meeting held on Monday.

The priests and Hindu organisations, who have been vociferously demanding to exempt hereditary temple priests from retirement on attainment of 65 years of age, were all hopeful that the TTD board is sure to approve taking the retired priests back into service, in its first meeting, keeping in view the assurance given by YSR Congress Party supremo and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

But their hopes were dashed to the ground with the Trust Board did not take up the issue of hereditary priests which rocked the state after the TTD retired them in May last year.

Interestingly, the TTD trust board set up by the previous TDP government in its first meeting itself took a decision for the retirement of three hereditary priests (Mirasi Archakas) working in Tirumala temple in the cadre of chief priest.

The three chief priests include Dr A V Ramana Deekshithulu, Narasimha Deekshitulu and Srinivas Deekshithulu which kicked off a state-wide controversy. Later, the TTD retired three more priests who attained 65 years of age working in Tiruchanur Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple.

The removal of hereditary priests working in TTD temples turned a major issue with the hereditary archakas in other temples in the states, Hindu organisations and some of the political parties opposing it and demanding to exempt hereditary priests from retirement.

More importantly, the main opposition party YSRCP solidly backed the priests demanding exemption while YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in his election meetings declared that the party will restore the rights of hereditary priests and also included it in its manifesto later.

Reddy went one step ahead by saying that the TTD board in its first meeting itself will see that Ramana Dekshithulu is taken back as chief priest of Tirumala temple if YSRCP come to power generating high hopes among the priests.

Against the backdrop, the board deferring its decision on hereditary priests' issues naturally surprised and shocked the priests. Talking to The Hans India Ramana Deekshithulu said that the board disappointed not the priests in TTD temples alone but the entire hereditary priests working in 20,000-odd temple in the state and hoped that the trust board will at least take a positive decision in its next meeting fulfilling the assurance made by CM to temple priests in the state.

TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal answering question on the reinstatement of former chief priest Ramana Deekshthulu said at a recent media conference that though subject was listed among the 185 items in the agenda of first board meeting it was deferred due to court case.

However, the retired priests point that it was the TTD which went on an appeal against the High Court judgement directing the TTD to reinstate the priests who were retired.

Meanwhile, discreet inquiries revealed that as annual Brahmotsavam is round the corner, TTD management was reluctant to make any changes in the priests set up which very crucial for the conduct of mega 9-day religious event.