TTD serves notice to priests

TTD serves notice to priests: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Thursday issued show-cause notices to three priests from the Ontimitta Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple for a breach of protocol. The priests identified as A. Shravan Kumar, Veena Manoj Kumar, and K. Parthasarathy (from Boyinapalli temple).

The trio allegedly visited former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s home at Pulivendula on Tuesday and performed religious honors without obtaining mandatory prior permission from the TTD administration. They have presented Sesha Vastram (sacred cloth), Ramulori Thomala, and Mutyala Talambraalu, and offered Vedic blessings (Veda Ashirvachanam) to Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The incident came into limelight on Wednesday after the YSRCP’s social media wing posted the video, which contains that the priests offering blessings to former chief minister. Therefore, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management demanded an explanation from the priests, as the TTD staff/priests taking part in private engagements was explicitly prohibited under the conduct rules.

TTD serves notice to priests: TTD authorities view this as a serious violation because these sacred items and honors are typically reserved for official temple functions or sanctioned protocols. Ontimitta Temple Deputy EO A. Prashanthi issued the formal notices to the priests and asked them to submit a formal explanation in two days.

The TTD authorities also warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response will lead to strict disciplinary action. Now, this move has sparked a political debate in Andhra Pradesh, with some viewing the TTD’s strict stance as a reflection of the current government’s policy on maintaining administrative separation between temple duties and political affiliations.

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