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Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: June 9, 2007
URL: http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/top-story/only-hindu-activity-at-tirumala-ap.aspx
The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday issued orders setting up the Tirumala Divya Kshetram, comprising the seven sacred hills, the holy teerthams and the central shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
The state government also issued orders banning propagation of other religions in the precincts of the Tirumala Divya Kshetram and some other temples. These orders were issued in the wake of criticism from several quarters that the Congress government had shrunk the seven sacred hills of Tirumala to two and was encouraging religious conversions in the area. To deflect this criticism, the state government had promulgated an ordinance earlier banning propagation of other religions at places of worship of a particular religion.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy told mediapersons on Friday that holy spots other than temples would also be notified if respective religions made representations. "The Constitution has guaranteed freedom of religion, but that does not allow propagation in places of worship of other religions," he said, adding, "It hurts religious sentiments."
Principal secretary (endowments) I.V. Subba Rao denied that the area of the temple had ever been reduced. "We issued orders setting up the divya kshetram to put to rest all such speculation," he added.
The department consulted several heads of peethams and members of the self-styled TTD Pariraskhana Samiti before issuing orders, he said. Satellite imagery was also used to demarcate the geographical borders of the seven hills.
All the seven hills - Seshadri, Garudadri, Venkatadri, Narayanadri, Vrishabhadri, Vrishadri and Anjanadri - right from the foothills, would form part of the divya kshetram.
In addition to this, 10 holy teerthams, footpaths leading to Tirumala from all directions, motorable ghat roads from Tirupati to Tirumala and from Tirumala to Papavinasanam, will form part of the complex.
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