Tirumala

17 May 2018 00:00 IST

Ramana Dikshitulu among priests likely to retire

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board, in its maiden meeting on Wednesday, resolved to fix retirement age for priests working in various TTD temples at 65 years.

The decision, if implemented, will see more than two dozens priests, including the chief priest of the Tirumala temple Ramana Dikshitulu, retiring. Priests belonging to three other erstwhile mirasidar families (Narasimha Dikshitulu, Srinivasa Dikshitulu and Narayan Dikshitulu) are also likely to lose their jobs.

Addressing presspersons, TTD Chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav made it clear that the vacancies that are bound to arise would be filled with qualified persons with appropriate educational qualifications. It doesn’t matter even if they belonged to the hereditary families. All that is required is that the persons should be competent to the core and have command over the rituals being performed inside the hill temple in strict accordance to the sastras.

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In another major decision, the board resolved to constitute a sub-committee to guide, suggest and advice with regard to the deposits being made by the TTD in various banks.

The board, besides approving the proposal relating to the organising of Arjitha Kalyanotsavam at the temple of Srinivasa Mangapuram and Sri Kodandarama Swamy in Chandragiri on the auspicious star of Punarvasu every month, also gave its nod for the constitution of a local advisory body to the temple of Lord Venkateswara in New Delhi.

Executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal said the management would seek an explanation from the senior priest Ramana Dikshitulu on the accusations levelled by him against the TTD.

However, there is no information with regard to the granting of Rs. 10 crore for the development of sub-temples, kalyana mandapam, veda patasala, guest house in madakasiri mandal of Anantapur district as sought by MLC G. Thippeswamy.