TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakara Reddy along with EO A V Dharma Reddy on Wednesday evening launched the program of distributing hand sticks to devotees on footpaths at Alipiri Padala Mandapam as part of an exercise to give them self-confidence against wild beasts attacks etc. if any.

Speaking to media on the occasion the TTD Chairman said that it was scientifically proven and since times immemorial the practice of carrying sticks while crossing dense woods or during hunting expeditions as a protective measure to scare wild animals with hand sticks. And the provision was not aimed at fighting the wild animals.

He said devotees were sent in groups on footpaths with security guards and police personnel were also stationed at frequent distances and wild animal prone Zones on the route. TTD efforts to contain the wild animals attack threat had yielded results with the trapping of four leopards.

The hand sticks will be taken back from devotees after they reach Sri Narasimha Swami temple and will be supplied to devotees on rotation basis. He also left it to the wisdom of critics on hand sticks exercise for finding fault with TTD enterprise in safety of Srivari devotees.

EO Dharma Reddy said several safety initiatives were rolled out by TTD after the June 22 incident at 7th mile and August 11 at Sri Narasimha Swami temple areas. Among them were installation of 500 CCCamera traps to identify movement of wild animals and their capture besides driving wild animals into deep forests from the footpaths, stoppage of sale of fruits and vegetables offered as feed to friendly animals like deer, monkeys etc. as a step to stop wild animals approaching footpaths for sake of animals

He said movement of wildlife was identified near Shila thoranam and 7th mile on Alipiri footpath. In view of the above, devotees in groups of 100 are advised to move on the footpath along with security personnel, chanting Govinda Nama.

The devotees are also informed of being cautious about wildlife activity every five minutes through the broadcasting system. The forest department has also recruited 100 staff for watching the safety of devotees on the routes.

The EO said currently devotees with below 12-year-old children are allowed to trek on footpaths till 2 pm in the afternoon. Two wheelers are also allowed on ghat road from morning 6.00 am to evening 6.00 PM.

The TTD has also sent proposals with designs to Wildlife institute of India and union forest ministry for construction of a steel fencing in the Alipiri footpath route which falls in the reserved forest zone. He said only 10,000 hand sticks were prepared at cost of ₹45,000 only and the exercise is not aimed at any destruction of forest wood at all.

Tirumala temple authorities have ordered a probe into the alleged drone video of the temple making rounds on social media platforms.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, has taken note of the video posted by a person from Hyderabad.

TTD Chairman Y. S. Subba Reddy on Saturday said a criminal case would be booked if anyone was found involved in using drones to shoot the video.

The TTD officials have virtually ruled out the possibility of the drone camera being used. They believe that the video may have been shot using still photography. There is also the possibility of the video being obtained from Google.

“A Video of Tirumala temple which is making rounds on social media platforms as taken through a Drone camera is baseless. However, it will be sent to the forensic lab for verification,” said TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CVSO) Narasimha Kishore.

He said the entire Tirumala is under the eagle eye of hi-fi vigilance and security and it is not possible to capture the video through a drone camera.

The CVSO also warned of legal procedure against the persons who videographed Tirumala temple if proved guilty.

As per Agama Shastra rules, flying of aircraft or drones over the hill shrine is prohibited.

The video in question was said to have been uploaded by a man from Hyderabad in November last year on his Instagram account. However, it went viral over the last couple of days, forcing the TTD authorities to take note of the same and react. Following the development, the Instagram user has taken down the video.

Beset by flooding and widespread damage to its properties over the last ten days, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is mulling a disaster management system.

Record levels of rainfall, unseen in the past three decades, has been reported in the region between November 17-19, following the depression in the Bay of Bengal. On Sunday too, heavy rainfall caused inconvenience to devotees and pilgrims.

The TTD Trust manages the affairs of the hill-top shrine of Lord Venkateswara, renowned as the world’s richest Hindu temple.

TTD Executive Officer Dr. KS Jawahar Reddy has directed officials to set up a Disaster Management System to assess losses and damages during calamities like heavy rains, rock falls on ghat roads, and also issue precautionary alerts to devotees.

Addressing a review meeting in Tirupati on Sunday, Reddy said a control room should be set up during such crisis periods in co-ordination with all departments to help devotees.

He said there is an urgent need to revive devotee services by undertaking repairs on war footing to ghat roads damaged during recent rains. He also urged engineering department officials to make temporary repairs to Srivari Mettu footpath as permanent repairs may take time.

Officials have been directed to adopt Rock Bolt Technology to avert incidents of landslides and road sinking on the ghat roads as suggested by experts committee. They have also been asked to document the rain losses at all locations to prepare an action plan, to facilitate devotees during such crisis situations.

As part of the disaster management system, officers concerned have been told to follow SOP (Standard Operation Procedure).

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) on Monday introduced incense sticks produced from the floral offerings made to deities at the shrines under its control in Andhra Pradesh. TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy launched the sale of these incense sticks at the SV Gosala.

The floral-based incense sticks have been introduced in seven variants under seven brands to denote the seven hills of Tirumala, that form the abode of Lord Venkateswara. The seven brands are Abhayahasta, Tandanaana, Divyapada, Aakrishti, Srishti, Thushti, and Drishti.

TTD has tied up with Bengaluru-based Darshan International to produce the incense sticks. The incense manufacturing company will provide manpower and machinery for producing the floral-based incense sticks.

“The raw material for these incense sticks are sourced from the flowers used in garlands for the worship of the deities and other decorative purposes in the TTD temples and functions,” said Subba Reddy on the occasion. These flowers are discarded the following day after they are used in temple functions.

The incense sticks are being sold at the Laddu sale counters at Tirumala. Located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the Tirumala Hills house the shrine of Lord Venkateswara. The temple is popularly known as the world’s richest Hindu temple.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Saturday culminated the month-long Yuddakanda Parayanam, which also included reciting Sri Rama Mula Mantram 30 lakh times.

“During these 30 days, the ritwiks recited Sri Sita Rama Lakshmana Anjaneya Swamy Mantram for three million times,” said a temple official.

As part of the concluding ceremony at Dharmagiri Veda Vignana Peetham, purnahuti was performed with religious fervor.

“As part of this celestial fete, Vastu Homam, Chatusasti Yogini Mandapam, Kshetrapalaka Mandapam, Navagraha Mandalam, Sri Rama Dasavarana Yantra Puja, Sodasa Ramalingato Bhadra Mandala Puja, Rama Chaturayana Kalasa Puja, Mantra Pushpam and Darbar Seva were performed,” said the TTD official.

The ceremony began with Bhagavat Prarthana, Viswaksena Aradhana, Punyahavachanam, Agni Pranayanam, Mula Mantra Homam, Shloka Homam, Mandapa Devata Homam, Anga Homam and Poustika Homam.

Shanti Homam, Jayati Homam, Kumbharadhana, Archana, Nivedana and Neerajanam were also performed, followed by Visesha Abhishekam with 16 Kalasas to Anjanesya Swamy.

“At Vasanta Mandapam, on the last day of Yuddhakanda, 288 Shlokas apart from 100 Shlokas from Yogavasisthyam were recited and the entire event took part under the supervision of Dharmagiri Veda Peetham Principal K.S.S. Avadhani,” he noted.

Meanwhile, TTD additional executive officer Dharma Reddy said the temple body has been doing a series of programmes to ward off the ill effects of Coronavirus pandemic.

“Yuddhakanda Parayana is also one such spiritual programme taken up seeing divine intervention to save the world from the pandemic,” said Reddy.

From Saturday to July 16, Shrota Yagam will be performed and from July 24 onwards, episodes of Ramayana will be recited for the wellbeing of humanity at Vasanta Mandapam.