07-19-2006, 05:53 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Tirupati Declaration: Hindus of the world unite</b>
V SUNDARAM
Chennai, July 18:
With Hinduism under siege from various quarters, it was time
for a show of unity and purpose. And that is what was witnessed at the
historic meeting of Tirumala Tirupati Samrakshana Samiti (TTSS) at
Tirupati Saturday last.
The meeting's purpose was simple and straightforward ? to show
in no uncertain terms the protest against the rampant and brazen
evangelical activities in Tirupati and Tirmula by Christian
missionaries.
Led by the two most respectable and revered sawmijis in our
midst today, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Vishveshwara Theertha Swami
of Pejawar Mutt, the meeting, made a clarion call against the sinister
attempts at proselytization by the missionaries and adopted the
historical Tirupati Declaration.
The following are the three cardinal Articles of this Historic
Declaration:
I) We Hindus assembled here declare that we do not support,
directly or indirectly, any group, institution, religion, media, or
political force, which preaches, practices or works against Hindu
dharma in this country.
ii) We appeal to all the Hindus in this country and elsewhere
to subscribe to and support this declaration, the Tirupathi
declaration.
iii) We want all the Hindu religious endowments to be managed
by Hindu bodies, and not by the government. We want the secular
government to release all religious endowments from its hold.
In addition to the above declarations, the following
resolutions were also adopted unanimously:
a) Immediate action must be taken to bring under TTD control
over 250 sq. kilometre area covering various Theerthams closely
associated with the legend of Lord Venkateswara as against the 27.5
sq. kilometres under Andhra Pradesh Government order (G.O.) No.338. In
this context, they quoted Mackenzie's manuscript of the year 1801 as
per which the Seven Hills extended up to the Swarnamukhi River near
Sri Kalahasti in the east, Nagapatala Devarakonda in the west,
Yerraguntla Thota in Rayachoti Taluk in the north and Pillari Kanuma
near Narayana Vanam in the south. Such a law would ward off any threat
of non-Hindu activities on the Seven Hills.
b) Only Hindus by law should be made eligible for appointment
in TTD Service.
c) Andhra Pradesh Government should immediately give up its
plans to convert Tirumala into a luxury tourist spot.
d) There should be a legal ban on all non-Hindu activities in
TTD. medical and educational institutions.
e) TTD funds should be used only for Hindu spiritual activities.
f) The Dharma Prachara Parishad should be renamed as Hindu
Dharma Prachara Parishad.
Speaking on the prohibition of non-Hindu appointments in TTD,
the Swamijis urged that immediate steps should be taken to deport 40
Christian employees and other non-Hindus at Tirumala.
The Swamijis alleged that the TTD's medical and educational
institutions have become centres of proselytisation by non-Hindus.
They demanded that the Devastanam should punish those non-Hindus
indulging in such evangelical activities and identify the TTD and
State Government Officials encouraging them directly or indirectly and
to transfer them from Tirupati forthwith.
The TTSS also charged TTD with diverting devotees' offerings
to other activities owing to Government political pressure. 'These
offerings made by Hindu devotees were meant for running temples,
conducting religious festivals and providing pilgrim amenities and
propagating Hindu Dharma. They are not meant for the evangelization
programmes of Andhra Pradesh Government under a Christian Chief
Minister,' they said.
The TTSS also expressed its deep concern over the increase in
evangelical activities at Tirumala and Tirupati and cited the
documentary evidence adduced by the Five Member Fact Finding Committee
appointed by the Pontiff of Pejawar with Justice Bikshapathi, former
High Court Judge as its head.
The meet also cited High Court Ruling which said: 'The rights
of Tirumala-Tirupati vest with Lord Venkateswara himself and the Trust
Board and the EO are only trustees of the property. None can take any
measures violating the right. All the Seven Hills fall under Tirumala
(W.P. No. 26145 of 1996-97(2) and 59 (DB) dated 7.9.1996).
In conclusion, Pejawar Swamiji categorically told media
persons that the Members of the TTSS fervently hope that their
legitimate demand would be acted upon before 9 August, 2006 and that
further action by the TTSS would be decided after ascertaining the
nature, intention and direction of Government response.
A host of other influential Swamijis from different parts of
India including Varada Ramanuja Jeeyar from Uttar Pradesh and Members
of the Tirupati Fact Finding Committee, T S Rao, former Director
General of Police, R. Srihari, former Vice Chancellor of the Dravidian
University, Krishniah, State Backward Classes Welfare Leader and other
prominent persons also attended the meeting. Several thousand Devotees
deeply concerned about the need for protecting the Seven Hills and the
Tirupati Temple joined in in the call.
http://newstodaynet .com/18jul/ ss2.htm
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
V SUNDARAM
Chennai, July 18:
With Hinduism under siege from various quarters, it was time
for a show of unity and purpose. And that is what was witnessed at the
historic meeting of Tirumala Tirupati Samrakshana Samiti (TTSS) at
Tirupati Saturday last.
The meeting's purpose was simple and straightforward ? to show
in no uncertain terms the protest against the rampant and brazen
evangelical activities in Tirupati and Tirmula by Christian
missionaries.
Led by the two most respectable and revered sawmijis in our
midst today, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Vishveshwara Theertha Swami
of Pejawar Mutt, the meeting, made a clarion call against the sinister
attempts at proselytization by the missionaries and adopted the
historical Tirupati Declaration.
The following are the three cardinal Articles of this Historic
Declaration:
I) We Hindus assembled here declare that we do not support,
directly or indirectly, any group, institution, religion, media, or
political force, which preaches, practices or works against Hindu
dharma in this country.
ii) We appeal to all the Hindus in this country and elsewhere
to subscribe to and support this declaration, the Tirupathi
declaration.
iii) We want all the Hindu religious endowments to be managed
by Hindu bodies, and not by the government. We want the secular
government to release all religious endowments from its hold.
In addition to the above declarations, the following
resolutions were also adopted unanimously:
a) Immediate action must be taken to bring under TTD control
over 250 sq. kilometre area covering various Theerthams closely
associated with the legend of Lord Venkateswara as against the 27.5
sq. kilometres under Andhra Pradesh Government order (G.O.) No.338. In
this context, they quoted Mackenzie's manuscript of the year 1801 as
per which the Seven Hills extended up to the Swarnamukhi River near
Sri Kalahasti in the east, Nagapatala Devarakonda in the west,
Yerraguntla Thota in Rayachoti Taluk in the north and Pillari Kanuma
near Narayana Vanam in the south. Such a law would ward off any threat
of non-Hindu activities on the Seven Hills.
b) Only Hindus by law should be made eligible for appointment
in TTD Service.
c) Andhra Pradesh Government should immediately give up its
plans to convert Tirumala into a luxury tourist spot.
d) There should be a legal ban on all non-Hindu activities in
TTD. medical and educational institutions.
e) TTD funds should be used only for Hindu spiritual activities.
f) The Dharma Prachara Parishad should be renamed as Hindu
Dharma Prachara Parishad.
Speaking on the prohibition of non-Hindu appointments in TTD,
the Swamijis urged that immediate steps should be taken to deport 40
Christian employees and other non-Hindus at Tirumala.
The Swamijis alleged that the TTD's medical and educational
institutions have become centres of proselytisation by non-Hindus.
They demanded that the Devastanam should punish those non-Hindus
indulging in such evangelical activities and identify the TTD and
State Government Officials encouraging them directly or indirectly and
to transfer them from Tirupati forthwith.
The TTSS also charged TTD with diverting devotees' offerings
to other activities owing to Government political pressure. 'These
offerings made by Hindu devotees were meant for running temples,
conducting religious festivals and providing pilgrim amenities and
propagating Hindu Dharma. They are not meant for the evangelization
programmes of Andhra Pradesh Government under a Christian Chief
Minister,' they said.
The TTSS also expressed its deep concern over the increase in
evangelical activities at Tirumala and Tirupati and cited the
documentary evidence adduced by the Five Member Fact Finding Committee
appointed by the Pontiff of Pejawar with Justice Bikshapathi, former
High Court Judge as its head.
The meet also cited High Court Ruling which said: 'The rights
of Tirumala-Tirupati vest with Lord Venkateswara himself and the Trust
Board and the EO are only trustees of the property. None can take any
measures violating the right. All the Seven Hills fall under Tirumala
(W.P. No. 26145 of 1996-97(2) and 59 (DB) dated 7.9.1996).
In conclusion, Pejawar Swamiji categorically told media
persons that the Members of the TTSS fervently hope that their
legitimate demand would be acted upon before 9 August, 2006 and that
further action by the TTSS would be decided after ascertaining the
nature, intention and direction of Government response.
A host of other influential Swamijis from different parts of
India including Varada Ramanuja Jeeyar from Uttar Pradesh and Members
of the Tirupati Fact Finding Committee, T S Rao, former Director
General of Police, R. Srihari, former Vice Chancellor of the Dravidian
University, Krishniah, State Backward Classes Welfare Leader and other
prominent persons also attended the meeting. Several thousand Devotees
deeply concerned about the need for protecting the Seven Hills and the
Tirupati Temple joined in in the call.
http://newstodaynet .com/18jul/ ss2.htm
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->