Tirumala urged to take control of private monasteries

Tirupati: Sadhu Parishad demanded TTD to take control of the Mathas to prevent exploitation of pilgrims visiting Tirumala to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara. A delegation of Sadhu Parishad swamis met TTD EO J Shyamala Rao on Thursday. In the meeting, they discussed various issues related to TTD and local Tirupati temples. Speaking to reporters at the Press Club later, Sadhu Parishad honorary presidents Ataluru Narayana, Srinivasananda Swamy and Bhairavananda said that private Mathas in Tirumala have turned into commercial centres, looting pilgrims by charging high rents for rooms and also extorting money in the name of various pujas and rituals. Swamiji said that these Mathas earn a total of Rs 2,000 crore annually by taking advantage of the lack of accommodation by pilgrims and their beliefs. Swamiji also brought to the notice of the TTD EO the problem of encroachment in the areas around local temples, including the rajagopuram of Govinda Rajaswamy temple in Tirupati. Due to encroachment, pilgrims visiting temples face a lot of inconvenience. Sadhu Parishad president Atluri Narayan said that the EO has sought two to three weeks to consider the issues brought to his notice. Narayan said that if the problems are not resolved within the stipulated time, they will not hesitate to launch an agitation.