ravilochanan.blogspot.com/2007/05/tirupati-is-not-buddhist-shrine-answer_05.html
Tirupati is not a Buddhist Shrine - An Answer to Dr. Jamanadas
Wish I'd found this earlier, would have saved so much trouble.
It's very long. But some stuff in it is definitely worth reading.
I don't agree with everything--e.g. the writer continues the assumption that Ilango Adigal who authored Cilappadikaram was a Jain. Ironically some of the reasons he cites to prove various Hindu kings wrongly claimed for Buddhism were actually Hindus, is exactly true for Ilango Adigal too: attends a Vedic yagnya.
And at least the article doesn't shy away from noticing Buddhist inculturation on/usurpation from Hindu religion.
Note also how neo-Buddhists don't just identify the fictive Potalaka (of the very much invented Avalokiteshwara) in Shabari to claim the Ayyappa Kovil+land (and Hindus) there, and elsewhere also identify Potalaka with Potiyil (to claim the obvious), but have also been claiming Tiruvenkata hills area as "Potalaka" apparently. I'm surprised the Hindus who so readily donated Ayyappa to Buddhism didn't donate Tirupati to Buddhism with as great an ease. Or maybe they'll try that in some nearby future?
Tirupati is not a Buddhist Shrine - An Answer to Dr. Jamanadas
Wish I'd found this earlier, would have saved so much trouble.
It's very long. But some stuff in it is definitely worth reading.
I don't agree with everything--e.g. the writer continues the assumption that Ilango Adigal who authored Cilappadikaram was a Jain. Ironically some of the reasons he cites to prove various Hindu kings wrongly claimed for Buddhism were actually Hindus, is exactly true for Ilango Adigal too: attends a Vedic yagnya.
And at least the article doesn't shy away from noticing Buddhist inculturation on/usurpation from Hindu religion.
Note also how neo-Buddhists don't just identify the fictive Potalaka (of the very much invented Avalokiteshwara) in Shabari to claim the Ayyappa Kovil+land (and Hindus) there, and elsewhere also identify Potalaka with Potiyil (to claim the obvious), but have also been claiming Tiruvenkata hills area as "Potalaka" apparently. I'm surprised the Hindus who so readily donated Ayyappa to Buddhism didn't donate Tirupati to Buddhism with as great an ease. Or maybe they'll try that in some nearby future?