Tirumala-nambi temple atop Tirumala Hill: An Appeal

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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