Tirumala-nambi temple atop Tirumala Hill: An Appeal

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

 

Adiyane's nativity is from Tirupati 'kshEtra' and I write this with a

heavy heart.

 

It is learnt that the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam) recently

announced a proposal to extend the area and perimeter of the Tirumala

temple 'prAkAra' by clearing the present 'prAkAra' of structures and

dwellings. The aim of this proposal is to create wide open spaces

around the main temple-precinct so as to decongest it of thronging

pilgrims as well as to enable periodic 'utsavams' (temple processions

during 'brahmOtsavam', for example) taking place without the undue

tumult and unmanageable crowding that is presently experienced.

 

The proposal of TTD, no doubt, is well-intentioned but one fears that

it might get implemented in a rather over-zealous manner that is

bound to trample upon the religious sentiments of many thousands of

devotees such as myself who hail from the holy temple-town of

Tirupati/Tirumala. The TTD's proposal if pursued in letter and spirit

will surely involve the demolition and evacuation of certain ancient

and sacred monuments that presently occupy the 'prAkAram'. When the

TTD proceeds to clear the 'prAkAra' there is no doubt that along with

the common structures and dwellings that will get demolished, sacred

monuments will also suffer the same fate. The baby, in effect, will

get thrown out with the bath-water.

 

One such most important monument in the 'prAkAra' is the temple or

shrine of Sri Tirumala Nambi that stands today in the south-eastern

corner of the main 'prAkAra', just below the overhead pedestrian

walkaway that leads from the Q-complex to the main 'dwAra' of the

temple.

 

This temple of Sri Tirumala Nambi is dedicated to the memory of the

great maternal uncle of Sri RamanujAchArya. He lived in Tirumala

during Ramanuja's times over a 1000 years ago. The temple stands

today on the spot where it is believed Sri Tirumala Nambi lived and

probably also where it is believed he received and occasionally

taught ("kAlapshEpam") his illustrious nephew the philosophical

nuances of the Ramayana for a period of a year. The esoteric

'tattvA-s' of the Ramayana that Tirumala Nambi imparted to Ramanuja

are 18 in number and they constitute one of the most profound and

invaluable interpretations of the Ramayana in the entire history and

lore of SriVaishnavism ("Nambi nirvAham").

 

Sri Tirumala Nambi was a great religious scholar in his own right but

out of deliberate choice decided to devote his life to

"teertha-kainkarya" at the Tirumala temple rather than turning to

expounding SriVaishnavite philosophy or poetry as was the wont of

'achArya-s' of his times. One thousand years ago Tirumala was not the

salubrious and convenient place we know it is today. Tirumala was a

rough and rocky terrain and the upkeep of the temple in those days

must have been a terribly daunting and unwelcome task. Nambi

dedicated his entire lifetime to living in a small house on the hills

and worked out of it while tending to, maintaining and administering

the temple of his beloved 'tiruvengadamudaiyAn'. More specifically,

Nambi performed the daily rite of fetching water from the nearby

stream of "aakAsa-ganga"

for use in the temple 'tirumanjanam' (ritual bath for the Deity). In

honour of this humble but most noble 'teertha-kainkaryam' that Nambi

institutionalized in his times, his heirs and progeny until this very

day have been allowed to perform the same service in the temple as

matter of heriditary right. The descendants of Tirumalai Nambi are

known today as "Tirumala kumara-s" or "thOzhappachAri-s".

 

When temple "utsavam-s" are held in Tirumala, such as the annual

'brahmOtsavam', it is age-old custom for the traditional procession

of Vedic chanteurs ("vEda-pArAyaNa-gOshti") to begin their ceremonial

perambulation of the temple precincts from the very doorsteps of the

temple that stands today on the hill in honour of Tirumala Nambi.

 

It is a great and hoary monument such as Tirumala Nambi's shrine that

the TTD seeks today to remove from the "prAkAra" -- ostensibly for

the sake of creating more convenience for pilgrims.

 

To be fair to the TTD they are offering an alternate site on the hill

for Nambi's shrine. But they do not seem to understand that the offer

of an alternate site for such an ancient and sacred shrine is adding

insult to injury. No one who has a deep acquaintance with the history

and legend of the Tirumala temple will be happy with the moving out

of the Nambi shrine to another site from the present one whose

historical and sentimental significance is enormous. It is like

offering an alternate site to relocate the Ram-janma temple in

Ayodhya.

 

The TTD contends that there should be no objection to moving the

shrine to an alteranate location just as other sacred Mutts, like the

Ahobila Mutt and Andavan Ashram, for instance, in the locality have

seen been moved from their original premises around the 'prAkAra' to

other spots elsewhere on the hill far away from the main 'prAkAra'.

But the TTD does not seem to understand that Mutts can never be

equated with a shrine such as Tirumala Nambi's. These Mutts came to

be built only around 200 to 300 years ago more for the purpose of

serving as camp-lodges for those devotees who came to Tirumala on

pilgrimage. Nambi's shrine is no free lodge! It commemorates his

memory of over 1000 years! It stands on the spot today where Nambi

once lived and worked and served the Lord of Venkatam...! How can the

shrine and the Mutts be treated as if they were all merely of the

same kind?

 

My appeal to the TTD is that by all means do proceed to extend the

'prAkAra' for the sake of the millions of the pilgrims who throng the

hill temple. But in the process please do not violate any of the

age-old and 'agamic' rules that we see once governed the temple

structures when first erected.

 

Similarly please do not mindlessly tear down ancient shrines like the

Tirumala Nambi 'sannidhi' and hurt the religious sentiments of

devotees. The TTD should be careful not commit sacrilege in the name

of providing "amenities for pilgrims".

 

Tirumala as it is today is in itself a grim reminder of the ugly

depredations that modernity has caused to be cast upon the natural

repose and serenity of the ancient temples of our land and their

environs. Let it not be made worse by proposals such as those the TTD

seeks to implement today.

 

**************************

 

If any member who has read the above write-up of mine has been moved

to tears and is even in the least inclined to agree with what adiyane

has stated... then please let him or her take the trouble to write to

the Executive Officer, TTD, Tirumala, India making known his/her

strong protest against the removal and relocation of the Tirumala

Nambi shrine from its present location in the grand "prAkAra" of the

temple of Venkatam.

 

Thank You,

 

Regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.

http://search.

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr Sudarshan,

Adean a member of Tholappa family would like state the following in this

connection.

The above temple earlier ThirumAligai of Acharya Tirumalai Nambi( Srisaila

Poorna) has significance in that the Veda PArAyana Thodakkam is being done

frm that place frm time immemorial to the present day to honor the AchArya

for his services done at temple.It is but apt that the location of this

unique temple

is at the present place and i am proud to say that we the members of

Tholappa family with the blessings of Lord and all AchAryas of Vaishnava

Sampradayam

and the TNSV Kainkarya and charitable Trust are maintaining the temple with

nithya Aradhanam and Monthly and yearly Utsavam on tirunakshatram day.

Our holy matadhipatis have taken action by sending letters to authorities

and to the Govt.of AP.I appeal to all members to join together to oppose the

move.

If such a move takes place it will be known earlier and we can phsically

prevent the action.I assure yu Adean will keep the groop informed of

develope ment thro this.

I beg remain

Adean Dasan

T K Srinivasan

Bangalore.

Mr MK Sudarshan I thank yu very much fr initiating this.

-

M.K.Sudarshan <sampathkumar_2000

<tiruvengadam>; <>;

<oppiliappan>; <>

Monday, April 28, 2003 2:06 AM

Tirumala-nambi temple atop Tirumala Hill: An Appeal

 

 

> Dear Members,

>

> Adiyane's nativity is from Tirupati 'kshEtra' and I write this with a

> heavy heart.

>

> It is learnt that the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam) recently

> announced a proposal to extend the area and perimeter of the Tirumala

> temple 'prAkAra' by clearing the present 'prAkAra' of structures and

> dwellings. The aim of this proposal is to create wide open spaces

> around the main temple-precinct so as to decongest it of thronging

> pilgrims as well as to enable periodic 'utsavams' (temple processions

> during 'brahmOtsavam', for example) taking place without the undue

> tumult and unmanageable crowding that is presently experienced.

>

> The proposal of TTD, no doubt, is well-intentioned but one fears that

> it might get implemented in a rather over-zealous manner that is

> bound to trample upon the religious sentiments of many thousands of

> devotees such as myself who hail from the holy temple-town of

> Tirupati/Tirumala. The TTD's proposal if pursued in letter and spirit

> will surely involve the demolition and evacuation of certain ancient

> and sacred monuments that presently occupy the 'prAkAram'. When the

> TTD proceeds to clear the 'prAkAra' there is no doubt that along with

> the common structures and dwellings that will get demolished, sacred

> monuments will also suffer the same fate. The baby, in effect, will

> get thrown out with the bath-water.

>

> One such most important monument in the 'prAkAra' is the temple or

> shrine of Sri Tirumala Nambi that stands today in the south-eastern

> corner of the main 'prAkAra', just below the overhead pedestrian

> walkaway that leads from the Q-complex to the main 'dwAra' of the

> temple.

>

> This temple of Sri Tirumala Nambi is dedicated to the memory of the

> great maternal uncle of Sri RamanujAchArya. He lived in Tirumala

> during Ramanuja's times over a 1000 years ago. The temple stands

> today on the spot where it is believed Sri Tirumala Nambi lived and

> probably also where it is believed he received and occasionally

> taught ("kAlapshEpam") his illustrious nephew the philosophical

> nuances of the Ramayana for a period of a year. The esoteric

> 'tattvA-s' of the Ramayana that Tirumala Nambi imparted to Ramanuja

> are 18 in number and they constitute one of the most profound and

> invaluable interpretations of the Ramayana in the entire history and

> lore of SriVaishnavism ("Nambi nirvAham").

>

> Sri Tirumala Nambi was a great religious scholar in his own right but

> out of deliberate choice decided to devote his life to

> "teertha-kainkarya" at the Tirumala temple rather than turning to

> expounding SriVaishnavite philosophy or poetry as was the wont of

> 'achArya-s' of his times. One thousand years ago Tirumala was not the

> salubrious and convenient place we know it is today. Tirumala was a

> rough and rocky terrain and the upkeep of the temple in those days

> must have been a terribly daunting and unwelcome task. Nambi

> dedicated his entire lifetime to living in a small house on the hills

> and worked out of it while tending to, maintaining and administering

> the temple of his beloved 'tiruvengadamudaiyAn'. More specifically,

> Nambi performed the daily rite of fetching water from the nearby

> stream of "aakAsa-ganga"

> for use in the temple 'tirumanjanam' (ritual bath for the Deity). In

> honour of this humble but most noble 'teertha-kainkaryam' that Nambi

> institutionalized in his times, his heirs and progeny until this very

> day have been allowed to perform the same service in the temple as

> matter of heriditary right. The descendants of Tirumalai Nambi are

> known today as "Tirumala kumara-s" or "thOzhappachAri-s".

>

> When temple "utsavam-s" are held in Tirumala, such as the annual

> 'brahmOtsavam', it is age-old custom for the traditional procession

> of Vedic chanteurs ("vEda-pArAyaNa-gOshti") to begin their ceremonial

> perambulation of the temple precincts from the very doorsteps of the

> temple that stands today on the hill in honour of Tirumala Nambi.

>

> It is a great and hoary monument such as Tirumala Nambi's shrine that

> the TTD seeks today to remove from the "prAkAra" -- ostensibly for

> the sake of creating more convenience for pilgrims.

>

> To be fair to the TTD they are offering an alternate site on the hill

> for Nambi's shrine. But they do not seem to understand that the offer

> of an alternate site for such an ancient and sacred shrine is adding

> insult to injury. No one who has a deep acquaintance with the history

> and legend of the Tirumala temple will be happy with the moving out

> of the Nambi shrine to another site from the present one whose

> historical and sentimental significance is enormous. It is like

> offering an alternate site to relocate the Ram-janma temple in

> Ayodhya.

>

> The TTD contends that there should be no objection to moving the

> shrine to an alteranate location just as other sacred Mutts, like the

> Ahobila Mutt and Andavan Ashram, for instance, in the locality have

> seen been moved from their original premises around the 'prAkAra' to

> other spots elsewhere on the hill far away from the main 'prAkAra'.

> But the TTD does not seem to understand that Mutts can never be

> equated with a shrine such as Tirumala Nambi's. These Mutts came to

> be built only around 200 to 300 years ago more for the purpose of

> serving as camp-lodges for those devotees who came to Tirumala on

> pilgrimage. Nambi's shrine is no free lodge! It commemorates his

> memory of over 1000 years! It stands on the spot today where Nambi

> once lived and worked and served the Lord of Venkatam...! How can the

> shrine and the Mutts be treated as if they were all merely of the

> same kind?

>

> My appeal to the TTD is that by all means do proceed to extend the

> 'prAkAra' for the sake of the millions of the pilgrims who throng the

> hill temple. But in the process please do not violate any of the

> age-old and 'agamic' rules that we see once governed the temple

> structures when first erected.

>

> Similarly please do not mindlessly tear down ancient shrines like the

> Tirumala Nambi 'sannidhi' and hurt the religious sentiments of

> devotees. The TTD should be careful not commit sacrilege in the name

> of providing "amenities for pilgrims".

>

> Tirumala as it is today is in itself a grim reminder of the ugly

> depredations that modernity has caused to be cast upon the natural

> repose and serenity of the ancient temples of our land and their

> environs. Let it not be made worse by proposals such as those the TTD

> seeks to implement today.

>

> **************************

>

> If any member who has read the above write-up of mine has been moved

> to tears and is even in the least inclined to agree with what adiyane

> has stated... then please let him or her take the trouble to write to

> the Executive Officer, TTD, Tirumala, India making known his/her

> strong protest against the removal and relocation of the Tirumala

> Nambi shrine from its present location in the grand "prAkAra" of the

> temple of Venkatam.

>

> Thank You,

>

> Regards,

>

> dAsan,

> Sudarshan

>

>

>

>

>

>

> The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.

> http://search.

>

>

>

>

> Srirangasri-

>

>

>

> Your use of is subject to

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Sudarshan,

 

Your article was very moving, to say the least.

 

Let us do what we can, physically and mentally (the

power of concentrated thought can make things happen

for good or bad), and if nothing works, then let us

turn inward - we cannot let the world control us;

instead, let us take charge of the situation.

 

One suggestion that adiYen has is:

 

Let us take pictures of the sannidhanam if we are

allowed to, and pray to it every day (thus bringing

the sannidhanam into our homes), else let us "absorb"

the image of the sannidhanam into our hearts so that

the sannidhanam resides forever in our hearts -

neither the TTD nor anyone can take it away from us

then.

 

How can mere monkeys appreciate the value of a

precious garland of flowers? - dear friend, let us

wake up, this is Kali Yuga - we have to take charge

and not let the world around us control our thoughts,

feelings, fate and life: perhaps this is the

difference between fate and free will.

 

Let the image of the sannidhanam "flash upon the

inward eye which is the bliss of solitude" for you

always.

 

adiYen

 

Ashok K

 

--- "M.K.Sudarshan" <sampathkumar_2000

wrote:

> Dear Members,

>

> Adiyane's nativity is from Tirupati 'kshEtra' and I

> write this with a

> heavy heart.

>

> It is learnt that the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati

> Devastanam) recently

> announced a proposal to extend the area and

> perimeter of the Tirumala

> temple 'prAkAra' by clearing the present 'prAkAra'

> of structures and

> dwellings. The aim of this proposal is to create

> wide open spaces

> around the main temple-precinct so as to decongest

> it of thronging

> pilgrims as well as to enable periodic 'utsavams'

> (temple processions

> during 'brahmOtsavam', for example) taking place

> without the undue

> tumult and unmanageable crowding that is presently

> experienced.

>

> The proposal of TTD, no doubt, is well-intentioned

> but one fears that

> it might get implemented in a rather over-zealous

> manner that is

> bound to trample upon the religious sentiments of

> many thousands of

> devotees such as myself who hail from the holy

> temple-town of

> Tirupati/Tirumala. The TTD's proposal if pursued in

> letter and spirit

> will surely involve the demolition and evacuation of

> certain ancient

> and sacred monuments that presently occupy the

> 'prAkAram'. When the

> TTD proceeds to clear the 'prAkAra' there is no

> doubt that along with

> the common structures and dwellings that will get

> demolished, sacred

> monuments will also suffer the same fate. The baby,

> in effect, will

> get thrown out with the bath-water.

>

> One such most important monument in the 'prAkAra' is

> the temple or

> shrine of Sri Tirumala Nambi that stands today in

> the south-eastern

> corner of the main 'prAkAra', just below the

> overhead pedestrian

> walkaway that leads from the Q-complex to the main

> 'dwAra' of the

> temple.

>

> This temple of Sri Tirumala Nambi is dedicated to

> the memory of the

> great maternal uncle of Sri RamanujAchArya. He lived

> in Tirumala

> during Ramanuja's times over a 1000 years ago. The

> temple stands

> today on the spot where it is believed Sri Tirumala

> Nambi lived and

> probably also where it is believed he received and

> occasionally

> taught ("kAlapshEpam") his illustrious nephew the

> philosophical

> nuances of the Ramayana for a period of a year. The

> esoteric

> 'tattvA-s' of the Ramayana that Tirumala Nambi

> imparted to Ramanuja

> are 18 in number and they constitute one of the most

> profound and

> invaluable interpretations of the Ramayana in the

> entire history and

> lore of SriVaishnavism ("Nambi nirvAham").

>

> Sri Tirumala Nambi was a great religious scholar in

> his own right but

> out of deliberate choice decided to devote his life

> to

> "teertha-kainkarya" at the Tirumala temple rather

> than turning to

> expounding SriVaishnavite philosophy or poetry as

> was the wont of

> 'achArya-s' of his times. One thousand years ago

> Tirumala was not the

> salubrious and convenient place we know it is today.

> Tirumala was a

> rough and rocky terrain and the upkeep of the temple

> in those days

> must have been a terribly daunting and unwelcome

> task. Nambi

> dedicated his entire lifetime to living in a small

> house on the hills

> and worked out of it while tending to, maintaining

> and administering

> the temple of his beloved 'tiruvengadamudaiyAn'.

> More specifically,

> Nambi performed the daily rite of fetching water

> from the nearby

> stream of "aakAsa-ganga"

> for use in the temple 'tirumanjanam' (ritual bath

> for the Deity). In

> honour of this humble but most noble

> 'teertha-kainkaryam' that Nambi

> institutionalized in his times, his heirs and

> progeny until this very

> day have been allowed to perform the same service in

> the temple as

> matter of heriditary right. The descendants of

> Tirumalai Nambi are

> known today as "Tirumala kumara-s" or

> "thOzhappachAri-s".

>

> When temple "utsavam-s" are held in Tirumala, such

> as the annual

> 'brahmOtsavam', it is age-old custom for the

> traditional procession

> of Vedic chanteurs ("vEda-pArAyaNa-gOshti") to begin

> their ceremonial

> perambulation of the temple precincts from the very

> doorsteps of the

> temple that stands today on the hill in honour of

> Tirumala Nambi.

>

> It is a great and hoary monument such as Tirumala

> Nambi's shrine that

> the TTD seeks today to remove from the "prAkAra" --

> ostensibly for

> the sake of creating more convenience for pilgrims.

>

> To be fair to the TTD they are offering an alternate

> site on the hill

> for Nambi's shrine. But they do not seem to

> understand that the offer

> of an alternate site for such an ancient and sacred

> shrine is adding

> insult to injury. No one who has a deep acquaintance

> with the history

> and legend of the Tirumala temple will be happy with

> the moving out

> of the Nambi shrine to another site from the present

> one whose

> historical and sentimental significance is enormous.

> It is like

> offering an alternate site to relocate the Ram-janma

> temple in

> Ayodhya.

>

> The TTD contends that there should be no objection

> to moving the

> shrine to an alteranate location just as other

> sacred Mutts, like the

> Ahobila Mutt and Andavan Ashram, for instance, in

> the locality have

> seen been moved from their original premises around

> the 'prAkAra' to

> other spots elsewhere on the hill far away from the

> main 'prAkAra'.

> But the TTD does not seem to understand that Mutts

> can never be

> equated with a shrine such as Tirumala Nambi's.

> These Mutts came to

> be built only around 200 to 300 years ago more for

> the purpose of

> serving as camp-lodges for those devotees who came

> to Tirumala on

> pilgrimage. Nambi's shrine is no free lodge! It

> commemorates his

> memory of over 1000 years! It stands on the spot

> today where Nambi

> once lived and worked and served the Lord of

> Venkatam...! How can the

> shrine and the Mutts be treated as if they were all

> merely of the

> same kind?

>

> My appeal to the TTD is that by all means do proceed

> to extend the

> 'prAkAra' for the sake of the millions of the

> pilgrims who throng the

> hill temple. But in the process please do not

> violate any of the

> age-old and 'agamic' rules that we see once governed

> the temple

> structures when first erected.

>

> Similarly please do not mindlessly tear down ancient

> shrines like the

> Tirumala Nambi 'sannidhi' and hurt the religious

> sentiments of

> devotees. The TTD should be careful not commit

> sacrilege in the name

> of providing "amenities for pilgrims".

>

> Tirumala as it is today is in itself a grim reminder

> of the ugly

> depredations that modernity has caused to be cast

> upon the natural

> repose and serenity of the ancient temples of our

> land

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

 

The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.

http://search.