This morning “Eepa” — a doyen of Tamil literature known for his Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novels and plays — Indira Parthasarathy sent me a sharp question as a WhatsApp message. It tested my familarity if not knowledge, as a Sri Vaishnava (albeit an “Unknown and Unusual” one!), of age-old temple customs and traditions in theContinue reading “Bhakti’s triumph over plunder and mayhem: revisiting the legend of Sri Rangam “thulaka naachiyaar” with “Eepa””
Tag Archives: tirumala
Tirumala Temple Annadaanam: Religious Charity or PR extravaganza?
There is no doubt that in our Hindu religion , “annadaanam”or charitable feeding of pilgrims is a very ancient and cherished tradition or custom . However , reading the above news item makes one wonder if this mega-project proposal serves religious charitable purpose or whether it is PR extravaganza catering more to the spirit ofContinue reading “Tirumala Temple Annadaanam: Religious Charity or PR extravaganza?”
“Tirumala Laddoo-Gate”: a Shakespearean tragedy indeed!
A few people, who had read my blog of yesterday September 20th above, messaged me saying that while they understood the spirit in which I wrote it, and were in sympathy with my sense of outrage , still they felt that instead of focusing on the main issue of adulteration of Tirumala laddoo, I hadContinue reading ““Tirumala Laddoo-Gate”: a Shakespearean tragedy indeed!”
For God’s sake! Please rebrand the Tirupati Ladoo! It’s no longer “Prasaadam”… ought to be only “Annadaanam”.
The below news-item published yesterday leaves millions of devotees of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati/Tirumala all across the country in a state of utter pain, shock, consternation and outrage. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tirupati-laddu-row-lab-reports-confirm-lard-tallow-in-ghee-supplied-for-tirumala/amp_articleshow/113499408.cms What is real meaning of “Prasaadam”? That which has been actually offered to the Deity as sacred victual is Prasadam. There used to be a timeContinue reading “For God’s sake! Please rebrand the Tirupati Ladoo! It’s no longer “Prasaadam”… ought to be only “Annadaanam”.”
The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantins”: Part-45
Hereditary and/or traditional rights of control over temple wealth and administration (continued) In the decades after Independence, in the democratic, socialistic and secular republic of India, successive elected governments of the State of Tamil Nadu realized the enormous potential for extracting great and steady revenue-streams and wealth — not to mention enormous leverage in electoralContinue reading “The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantins”: Part-45″
The Decline and Fall of the “ubhaya-vedaantin-s”: Part-34
Following a decree of the British Crown in London and an act of the Parliament there, the withdrawal of the East India Company from India began in the late 18th century CE and ended in 1859 CE when it was formally wound up. Consequently, the Company was forced to reverse and retreat from its policiesContinue reading “The Decline and Fall of the “ubhaya-vedaantin-s”: Part-34″
The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantin-s”: Part 33
Fifty long years after Warren Hastings was sought to be impeached by the British Parliament in 1788 CE, the Royal Decree of 1833 of Queen Victoria in England, was passed to cut the East India Company to size. In the interregnum, the Napoleonic wars in Europe and the wars in India between the British andContinue reading “The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantin-s”: Part 33″
The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantin-s”: Part-28
“The first expedition of the English East India Company (EEIC) to India was led by William Hawkyns, who landed in Surat on 24 August 1608 CE…. And thus began endless bloody wars between Islam and British Imperialism on India’s soil…. Many wars followed in the following two hundred and fifty years that ultimately gave theContinue reading “The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantin-s”: Part-28″
The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantin-s”: Part-27
In 1732 CE, the Persian marauder, Nadir Shah, invaded the Mughal capital of Delhi and carried out sheer unspeakably barbarian-scale mayhem, slaughter, loot and plunder for 57 days! The historian William Dalrymple writes (in his book, “The Anarchy”) that at the end of his expedition, the value of the loot that Nadir Shah took backContinue reading “The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantin-s”: Part-27″
The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantins”: Part 13
“SrIranga-mangaLa-nidhim karuNAnivAsam SrIvenkaTAdri-SikharAlaya-kAlamegham | SrIhastiSaila-Sikharojjvala-pArijAtam SrISam-namAmi SirasA yaduSaila-dIpam || It is an observable fact of history that at three of the above four great capital temple-towns of Sri Vaishnavas the above shloka names — viz. Tirumala, Sri Rangam and Melkote –Sri Ramanujacharya, personally undertook the responsibility for reforming the then prevailing and later institutionalizing aContinue reading “The Decline and Fall of the “ubaya-vedaantins”: Part 13″