Article from The Hindu: Mandapam panel records views of 36 pundits

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Mandapam panel records views of 36 pundits

 

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI,

 

DEC. 4.

 

The three-member committee headed by P.V.R.K. Prasad, IAS (retd), constituted by

the Rajasekhara Reddy Government to go into the TTD's proposal to construct a

`Maha Prakaram' around the existing Tirumala temple complex today wound-up its

two-day in-camera sitting.

 

The panel interacted with 36 pundits from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and

Karnataka who are experts in Vaikhanasa Agama and recorded their views on the

three contentious issues referred to it following some serious objections raised

by some mathadhipathis and peethadhipathis in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere. The

major issues which the Government wanted the panel to study and give its

recommendations are the reconstruction of the dismantled `Veyyikalla Mandapam'

in Tirumala, permissibility of constructing a Mahaprakaram on which divergent

views emerged as it meant adding one more layer to the temple complex, and

third; implementation of the Tirumala master plan which left many ruffled

feathers in the political and the social sectors as it ended in evictions and

demolitions.

 

 

Second Mahadwaram

 

The committee also got a 24-point questionnaire filled by the participants

covering various aspects related to the issues. Besides the 36 pundits, two

`Pradhana Archakas' of the Tirumala temple, a couple of Sthapathis and a

4-member team of `observers' handpicked by the committee also sat through the

marathon sittings.

 

Significantly, the committee also discussed the permissibility of providing

another entrance to the main temple on the western side to facilitate separate

entry and exit points to tackle the clogging up of the queue lines inside. To

cope with the increasing rush, it also reviewed the different sevas and rituals

performed in the temple and examined whether there was any need to dispense with

some which did not involve any religious significance so that more time could be

allotted for general darshan.

 

 

Corrective steps

 

Mr Prasad said that the committee noticed a slight `imbalance' in the Tirumala

temple administration in the wake of the abolition of the mirasi system and

devoted some time to find suitable corrective measures to overcome the problem.

 

The Committee which took up the vexed mandapam demolition issue noted that there

were a lot of apprehensions-- some genuine and some misplaced-- and devoted one

full session for the same to find an end to the row in a way acceptable to

everyone.

 

 

 

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