TTD under cloud again

TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is again in the news for wrong reasons. Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar’s comments on Friday that there are many things wrong with both the rituals and temple administration put the TTD under the scanner. Jeeyar’s comments irked Vaikhanasa pandits and temple employees, who maintained that everything is done as per tradition.Lack of any reaction from TTD chairman K Bapiraju and higher officials to Jeeyar’s comments has come under heavy criticism. Meanwhile, TTD is silent on allowing Shirdi Sai Baba’s ‘Padukas’ into Tirumala temple. About 700 devotees of Sai Baba came for darshan to Tirumala a couple of days ago and were accorded welcome by TTD chairman K Bapiraju, who carried ‘Sai Padukas’ inside the temple personally.When asked, TTD Agama advisor Vedanta Vishnubhattacharyulu said that carrying of the padukas past Dwaja Stambam was wrong. Since they were made of silver and not used as footwear, but meant for worship, they did not make an issue of it, he said. TTD executive officer LV Subramanyam being named as one of the accused in Emaar Properties case is being viewed as another negative mark on TTD. Many people say only persons with untainted image should hold top positions in TTD.