Report on Swamy Paripoornananda and Dr. Ghazal Srinivas march to restore Vakulamata Temple
Swami Paripoornananda and Dr. Ghazal Srinivas have undertaken procession to highlight the importance of restoring and renovating Vakulamata Temple and underscore the total negligence on the part of TTD and the government.
Enclosed you will find Three YouTube videos covering the protest march and also news paper write up by The Hindu.
Swami Paripoornananda’s statement
Pujya Swami Paripoornananda addressing the news media informed that Vakula Mata is the mother of Lord Venkateswara, who is acclaimed as universal God by all Hindus. It is duty of every Hindu to honor, respect and protect the mother of Lord Balaji. Vakula Mata Temple is in ruins. It has been totally neglected and abandoned by the authorities. They are taking good care of Balaji, who brings cores of rupees to the treasury, but they are ignoring and overlooking His mother. Our samskriti unequivocally states: Matru Devo Bhava – Mother is divine. We are directly pointing fingers at TTD and the government for their total failure in protecting the Mata Temple. Is this the kind of culture we want to impart to our nation? Is this what we want to teach our fellow human beings? Is this the way we respect our mothers?
TTD and the government have allowed the illegal mining of the Hill for the last 4-5 years. Swamiji demanded the government should take immediate legal action against all those people responsible for illegal mining, people who failed in their responsibility to take proper legal action against the illegal miners, people who encouraged the illegal mining, and people who failed to challenge the Stay Order. He also stated that these people could be behind the villagers who protested against the march which is directed against the illegal quarrying.
He emphatically stated that this is the final protest demanding the rebuilding of Vakulamata Temple. If this march does not fetch the needed result and the TTD does not take immediate action, hundreds of people are ready to sacrifice their lives in front of dilapidated Vakulamata Temple. It is rooted in our Hindu scriptures that says “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha” – if we protect dharma (righteousness), it will protect us. It is our dharma to protect our mother – Vakula Mata.
Dr. Ghazal Srinivas’ statement
Dr. Srinivas emphatically stated that preservation and protection of Hindu Temples should be the top priority of the government. On behalf of Save Temples movement, he has taken the full responsibility of safeguarding the dharmic values and virtues of Hindu samskriti.
Vakula Mata was the mother of Lord Venkateswara. It is inexcusable and unpardonable to ignore and neglect Vakulamata Temple. Every body should visit Vakulamata first to receive her blessings before going to Lord Venkateswara for his darshan. Only by protecting her and attending to her needs, we can satisfy her son Lord Balaji. Importance of mother is so great that it is often stated that if we put mother on one side of the weighing scale and the rest of creation would be on other side of the scale, it would tilt toward mother.
Hence, Sri Ghazal Srinivas demanded that we rebuild Vakulamata Temple immediately. Illegal mining should be stopped immediately. Otherwise, crores of people will assemble to start the agitation to make sure the government will take necessary steps to restore the glory of Vakulamata Temple. At the prompting of the TV correspondent he sang part of the first song in DEVAALAYAM audio CD “ Randi, Randi Kapaadukundaam mana devalaalu” Come, come, let us protect our Temples. They are our lifeline and lifeblood. They are corner stones of our culture. Only by protecting Temples, we can protect our culture. Let us garland our hearts with the image of Temples. Let us sing the glory of Temples. Let us attach our hearts to the Rajagopurams. Thus he emphasized the need to protect the Temples.
The residents of Peruru, where the Vakulamata Temple is located, expressed their concern about their livelihood since many of them work on the quarrying of the mountain. Swami Paripoornananda and Ghazal Srinivas addressed their concerns and promised them that they will be beneficiaries of the restoration of the Temple. Many jobs will be created for their livelihood. They will be the ones to receive them. Whenever new shops are to be opened they will be the ones to be considered first. With that assurance the villagers joined the march chanting Govinda, Govinda, Govinda and climbed up the Vakula Mata Temple site.
You will find the coverage by THE HINDU and also in two YouTube videos that are given below for your information. Very powerful message was given at the rally.
Youtube Videos
Swamy Paripoornananda and Ghazal Srinivas takes padayatra in Tiumala - Tv9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1GSDSQ1C94
http://dc-epaper.com/andhrabhoomi/PUBLICATIONS/DC/AB/2012/08/20/Article//002/20_08_2012_002_023.jpg
Ensure that non-Hindus are not employed in TTD
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3792356.ece
TIRUPATI, August 19, 2012
The Hindu; Special Correspondent
Swamy Paripoornananda leads protest against evangelical activities in TTD institutions
Swamy Paripoornananda, who has embarked on a protest programme to exert pressure on TTD and the government to check evangelical activities at Tirumala and in the TTD institutions, held a dharna on Saturday in front of the TTD’s administrative building along with other like-minded swamijis and local functionaries of the Bharatiya Janatha Party and its frontal organisations.
Protests by the Swamijis come in the wake of an episode allegedly involving some lower level employees of the TTD’s health wing indulging in evangelical practices in their TTD staff quarters at Tirumala recently.
Even as Paripoornananda and others sat on their dharna at a make-shift tent, a number of activists belonging to other organisations raised slogans against the ‘religious outrage’ and waved party flags and banners.
The Swamy demanded that the TTD not only take all steps to curb missionary activities at Tirumala and in TTD institutions but also ensure that non-Hindus are not employed in the organisation and that those already employed be repatriated to government.
Support from others
The stir by the swamijis has received support from the Hindu Devalayala Parirakshana Samithi headed by Kamalanandaswamy, Tirumala-Tirupati Samrakshana Samithi led by D.R. Narendra and Aadi Hindu Parirakshana Samithi founded by Kalluri Chengaiah.
They expressed solidarity with Swaroopananda, who is expected to take a ‘padayatra’ through the main streets of Tirupati on Sunday to intensify his stir.
Kalluri Chengaiah, who felicitated the swamijis has in a representation demanded that the 150-odd non-Hindus working in the TTD be replaced and that TTD employees who refuse to sport ‘thirunamam’ on their foreheads too be suitably dealt with.
601-918-7111
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation [GHHF]
Our mission is to preserve, practice, propagate and protect our heritage and abolish Endowment Act and free Temples from the government control. If we have to make an impact on our movement to bring changes to preserve our culture, we need you financial support. Your generous donations to continue our efforts to free Hindu Temples from government control, awaken the Hindus about the plight of Hindu Temples and the impending danger of illegal conversion techniques are essential. We are requesting all the individuals and organizations to support financially to continue our movement to free Hindu Temples from the government control and stop these conversions.
Please DONATE. Your donations are appreciated to continue the work.
NOTE: GHHF is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue code. Our tax ID # 41-2258630
Please send your tax-deductible donations to:
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, Texas 75035
You can go to www.savetemples.org and pay by PAYPAL
For more information Please visit our website:
http://www.globalhinduheritagefoundation.org
