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Hans India
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Former Andhra CM Jagan's maternal uncle booked for political comments at Tirumala temple
Tirumala police, on Monday, registered a case against YSR Congress Party leader P. Ravindranath Reddy, the maternal uncle of party President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, for allegedly making political comments in Tirumala temple premises. On a complaint by the Vigilance officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the police registered a case against Ravindranath Reddy, a former MLA and former Mayor of Kadapa. The YSRCP leader allegedly violated the TTD rules by making political comments on Sunday after offering prayers. He made the comments while talking to media persons in front of the temple. Ravindranath Reddy criticised the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government and commented on political developments, including the Pulivendula Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency by-election. He alleged that the TDP-led alliance was indulging in irregularities and attempting to intimidate YSRCP workers and Pulivendula residents. He also claimed that crop yields had declined under the present government and accused it of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh in the name of Super Six scheme. The TTD Board, which looks after the affairs of Sri Venkateswara temple, had issued a directive in November last year, banning political and hate speeches at the Tirumala temple premises. The Board had emphasised the need to preserve the spiritual sanctity of the holy site. The TTD Board noted that the incidents of political leaders making controversial statements to media personnel immediately after temple darshan have disrupted the spiritual atmosphere traditionally characterised by divine chants of "Govinda". The Board had warned that any person violating the directive will face legal consequences. Political leaders have been explicitly requested to refrain from making political statements or engaging in hate speech within the temple precincts. The TTD officials are keeping a close watch on the media interactions of the political leaders after darshan. It's common for leaders of all the parties to speak to media after coming out of the temple. However, political leaders have been exercising caution since the TTD issued the order in November last year.
The Hindu
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Artificial Intelligence in Tirumala darshan: a contentious debate unfolds
The remarks made by former Chief Secretary L. V. Subramanyam regarding the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the darshan process of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala have ignited an intriguing debate among employees. During his recent visit to the hill temple, Mr. Subramanyam, who also served as the Executive Officer of the TTD, expressed his reservations about implementing AI in the darshan process, urging the management to drop the idea which he opined was difficult to ground. Conversely, the incumbent TTD Board, led by Chairman B.R. Naidu, is resolute in its pursuit to mitigate waiting times, aiming to facilitate devotees' darshan within a mere hour or two. To achieve this objective, the Board is engaged in substantive deliberations with prominent IT conglomerates, including Google and TCS. Mr. Subramanyam underscored that past Trust boards and EOs had similarly explored the feasibility of expediting darshan through advanced technology, but were ultimately compelled to drop these endeavors owing to inherent structural constraints within the temple. Senior officials concurred with Mr. Subramanyam's assessment, illustrating that previous administrators who toyed with several options like installing a moving carpet within the sanctum sanctorum or devising 'Netra Dwaralu' were forced to abandon these ideas owing to structural limitations and adherence to Agama sastras, respectively. However, another section of employees has voiced support for Mr. Naidu's proposal, positing that exploring AI-driven solutions to alleviate prolonged waiting hours is a laudable pursuit. They argue that even if the management does not succeed in its primary objective, it may still yield innovative methods to substantially reduce waiting times. Mr. Naidu also rebuked Mr. Subramanyam for his remarks, deeming them unsolicited and unjustifiable in light of the global trend towards AI adoption. He emphasized that the proposal aims not only to curtail waiting hours but also to provide pilgrims with advance information of their darshan timing so as to enable to plan other temple visits in the district more effectively.
Hans India
17-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Religious fervour marks Anivara Asthanam at Tirumala
Tirumala: The annual Anivara Asthanam was performed with religious fervour at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple here on Wednesday. The event was attended by Pedda Jeeyar Swamy, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy, TTD chairman B R Naidu, EO J Syamala Rao and board members. From 7 am to 9 am, Sri Malayappa Swamy along with His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, seated in the Ghanta Mandapam on Sarvabhoopala Vahanam, facing Garudalwar while Sri Viswaksena, the Chief Commander, was placed facing south. Special pujas were performed to both Moolavirat and Utsava Murthies. Pedda Jeeyar carried six Pattu garments in a procession over his head on a plate and offered four to the Moolavirat, one each to Malayappa Swamy and Sri Vishwaksena. The temple priests performed rituals, including Parivattam, lachchana, and traditional offerings. The ceremony concluded with placing the lachchana at the holy feet of Sri Venkateswara Swamy. In the evening, the deities blessed devotees in a floral palanquin, the Pushpa Pallaki. On the auspicious occasion of the Anivara Asthanam, Pattu clothes (Sare) were offered by Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple of Srirangam, the famous Sri Vaishnava pilgrimage centre in Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday. Special pujas were performed to the Sare at the Tirumala Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamy Mutt, adjacent to the Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswamy temple. From there, Tirumala Pedda Jeeyar Swamy, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy, TTD chairman Naidu, EO Syamala Rao, and Tamil Nadu endowments department secretary Sridharan brought the silk vastrams to the temple in a procession along four Mada streets, and later offered to the presiding deity. TTD Board members and additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary, CVSO Murali krishana, Tamil Nadu endowments additional secretary Manivasagam, Srirangam temple joint commissioner Sivaram Kumar, temple chief priest Sundara Bhattar, deputy EO Lokanatham, and other senior officials also participated in the programme.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's silence on journalist's derogatory comments on women of Amaravati, indicates his involvement, alleges BJP leader Bhanu Prakash Reddy
BJP State official spokesperson and TTD Board member Bhanu Prakash Reddy has demanded a public apology from YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to the women of Amaravati, for his failure to condemn the derogatory statements made on them by a journalist on Sakshi TV. The failure of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy to condemn the statements indicates that the YSRCP president was supporting the derogatory language used by the Sakshi journalist on the women of Amaravati. It shows that while the journalist had made the statement, the 'script, screenplay and direction' was by the YSRCP president, Mr. Bhanu Prakash Reddy alleged at a press conference, here, on Monday (June 09). Defending the action of the police for beating up three youths in full view of the public, in Tenali, the BJP leader said that the accused were involved in ganja trade and other illegal activities. Ridiculing Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy for going to meet and console them, he said that the former Chief Minister would be restricted to holding of 'Odarpu yatras' (consoling victims) and would not have any 'Jaitra yatra' (victory rally) in future, if he continued with such reprehensible behaviour. He recalled that the former Chief Minister had labelled Amaravati as 'Kammaravati' and had put a spoke in the wheel of the capital construction activity. The BJP leader said that the coalition government in the State was committed to put down rowdyism with an iron fist. Reiterating the demand for tending an apology to the women of Amaravati, he said the YSRCP, which had to contend with 11 seats in the last General Elections, would not even get those seats in future, if the leaders do not mend its ways. BJP Parliamentary district president MMN Parasurama Raju said that already 1.75 crore people have already registered for participating on the International Yoga Day event in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating, in Visakhapatnam on June 21. The programme would be held block-wise, on a 25 km stretch on the RK Beach – Bhimili Beach stretch. He appealed to the public to participate in large numbers and make the programme a grand success.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TTD chief offers silk vastrams to Japali Anjaneya Swamy
Tirumala: On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, TTD Chairman BR Naidu on Thursday offered Pattu Vastrams on behalf of TTD to Japali Anjaneya Swamy at Japali Theertham in Tirumala. Upon his arrival at the temple, priests welcomed the Chairman and facilitated Japali Hanuman's darshan. After performing special pujas to the deity, the priests honored the Chairman with Sindhoora vastram and offered Theertha Prasadams. Speaking to the media, the TTD Board Chief said that offering Pattu Vastrams to Japali Hanuman on Hanuman Jayanti has been a long-standing tradition. He said he prayed to Sri Japali Hanuman to bestow is blessings upon all the devotees. Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary, temple Dy EO Lokanatham, VGO Surendra, others were also present.
