In a bold move, the Central Information Commission (CIC) directed the authorities about the huge quantity of missing ornaments in the Tirupati temple, donated by Vijayanagara kingdom in the 16th century. The CIC was taking action on the evasive attitude of the state and central agencies on the mysterious missing of the tons of gold ornaments donated by Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishna Devaraya to the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, which was recorded historically and archeologically.
The CIC has posed this question to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Culture Ministry, the Andhra Pradesh government and the shrine of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu in a stern order also asked the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to make public the action contemplated by the Union government to declare Tirumala temples as national monuments and to enforce international obligation to protect the world heritage structures and ornaments.
The commission was hearing the plea of one B K S R Ayyangar who had sought to know from the PMO the action taken by the government on his representation for declaration of TTD Tirumala Temples as historical and as national heritage monuments. The query was transferred to various authorities but no satisfactory response was provided to Ayyangar who then approached the commission, highest appellate authority in the RTI matters, seeking directions for disclosure in the matter.
During the hearing he alleged TTD, a trust body, was not protecting the 1500-year-old structures in Tirupati as it shelved a 2011 proposal to declare the temple and temples around as ancient monuments under the provisions of Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Citing a report of Director of Archaeology and Museums, Hyderabad in 2011, the information commissioner pointed out a 20-member team had found that inscriptions engraved on the walls of the Lord Venkateshvara Temple at Tirumala mention ornaments donated by Vijayanagara King Sri Krishna Devaraya.
The report, however, says “no ornament” with the temple tallied with any of those donated by the king, the commissioner noted. “It is not a wild allegation of the appellant, but a major finding by the director of the Ministry of Culture, which was not acted upon since 2011,” he said. Acharylu said the TTD had appointed a self-appraisal committee under former Supreme Court justices D P Wadhwa and Justice Jagannadha Rao.
The panel also noted the ‘Tiruvabharanam’ register, being maintained in Tirumala temple since 1952, had no mention of any temple ornaments received from Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishna Devaraya and concluded all the items were intact, he said.
“The report pointed out that there was no register for the ornaments in the temple before 1952, except the information of handing over the jewels by a priest in 1939,” he noted. He said it was not known whether all valuable ornaments were recorded in any document and what kind of system was followed to document all old and new valuable ornaments, he said.
The team had also recommended surprise verifications of ornaments and valuables by a special team and also by a team of ‘archakas’ of the main deity as others are not allowed to enter sanctum sanctorum, he said. Acharyulu said the TTD had not published any action taken report on the recommendations of the Justice Wadhwa committee report.
While hearing the 2009 Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Andhra Pradesh High Court had wondered why the temple administration was reluctant to make a comprehensive inventory of the jewellery, he said. The petitioner, Ayyangar, also alleged Veyi Kalla Mandapam (Thousand pillared ‘Mandapam’) in front of ‘Mahadwaram’ (main entrance of Lord Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala) built by 15th century king Saluva Malladevera Maharaj was demolished by TTD in 2003 without any reason.
He claimed the Mandapam was used to offer quiet space for pilgrims to sit, relax, and chant the name of the God in front of the Mahadwaram, read the inscriptions on the stone walls of temples and enjoy the sculptures on the pillars. “He believed that if Tirmala temples been declared ancient monuments, TTD could not have dared to pull it down,” Acharyulu sad.
He said TTD was answering RTI questions earlier, but now refusing to respond, though part of endowment department of AP which is undoubtedly a public authority. “Justice Wadhwa and Justice Jagannadha Rao Committee reports are not made public so far. Why? They recommended for ‘transparent and foolproof system for the protection of jewels’. What is the response on this recommendation,” he asked.
He said the Ministry of Culture and its Department of Archaeology have a duty to protect national monuments and ornaments of Vijayanagara empire. “The ministry under the leadership of the PMO is expected to take all measures to ensure the protection of the national or world heritage coupled with the ancient Hindu Religious Organisation like TTD,” he said.
He said it is the duty of Ministry of Culture and Department of Archaeology of Union of India to coordinate with the state bodies to know what exactly happened and assure the people that ancient monuments would be protected.
“The PMO needs to understand that it was not simple question of weeding out a representation of appellant, but taking up concrete measures for securing the monuments of glorious cultural past of
India reflected in Tirumala temples and diamond studded golden ornaments of olden times, without leaving it to the sweet will of political bosses of TTD,” he said.
(with inputs from PTI)
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The loot has been going on since 1947 when the treasures of the previous kingdoms were taken away to place these in the museums and archives. Temples have been looted in daylight robbery by the security man and guy sitting as his in charge. In 2007, in one of the temples in Mysore, I witnessed how the security guy roughed up some devotees and the Purohit and pocketed the golden chain and money offered in the thali. Endowment Act was not continued by the present government. Know your history, you will see what is going on under this act before making irrelevant remarks. The Ma-Beta-Damad- husband, minsters under them, the bureaucrats, local officers, the deputy commissioner (collector) ASI officials- all were part of the TEAM LOOT. During Vajpayee’s government, the cultural minister Smt. Menaka Gandhi produced an investigative report on the loot of the kingdoms’ treasures and the temple treasures. Instead of investigating the matter and cataloging the missing item, Menaka Gandhi was removed as cultural minister. The Gandhis always prevailed. Even now, it is not too late to do things right and get rid of the Endowment Act passed by the British in 1920. Why is this act considered so sacred as not to repeal it. Temples grounds are not maintained, temples are dilapidated, the Purohits live like destitute and Hindu devotees are humbled by a mere orderly of the government. eis thali mein sub ke haath thei aur hamam mein sub nange thei. Those Hindus who could raise their voice, decided not and looked the other way; because, they were secular. If you have guts as Indian citizens, then, make sure that chor dynasty does not come in power!!
Why CIC raising this issue after all these years? Because environment is more conducive for a proper investigation under NaMo Govt. Under Congress nothing would have moved as the looters were ruling the country at that time
The Indian State is a vehicle for looting the Savarna Arya. ALL politicians, bureaucrats, police and judiciary merely wish to control the process to profit from plunder.
The Indian State is a vehicle for looting the Savarna Arya. ALL politicians merely wish to control the process to profit from plunder.
It is time that TTD monopoly is demolished & transparency is pushed into
Lot of politicians name will surface out if thorough probe is done. GOP high command will of course would have had highest cut. Cannot rule of NTR too.
Another huge scam surfacing??!!
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Already Damadji, with the active support from Ma-Beta used to smuggle out high value antiques
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Why was Damadji accorded VVIP status in Airports?
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An intensive & thorough probe is imperative
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Involvement of Naidu can not be ruled out
People elected BJP to address some of these problems. Alas, the government did little. I have not seen any BJP minister ever talk about these issues. I am wondering why you have mentioned damadji. Congress is no longer in power, so please ask questions to/of the rulers, not the ruled.