Bangalore Mirror: Chetan R, Bangalore: Thurday September 10, 2015
It's been 68 years since the rule of the Maharajas ended, and 44 years since privy purses were abolished. But a ritual started by Yadu dynasty rulers 400 years ago, continues to be practised.
Throwing light on a little-known customary practice, information provided on an RTI query, reveals the Wadiyars used to donate groceries, fruits and vegetables to Lord Balaji at Tirumala. The baton has now been passed on to the state government, which donates a staggering amount of groceries and other essentials, including 183.5 kg ghee, 330 litres milk, 440 kg rice, 43.75 kg split green gram, 12.75 kg urad dal, 700 gm raisins, 1.6 kg black pepper, 800 gm fenugreek, 130 gm red chilli, 270 gm cardamom, 8.750 kg mustard, 50 kg vegetables and 20 kg fruits to Lord Balaji. Hold your breath! It's done seven times a year on specific occasions just like the Wadiyars did, and also covers requirements for daily rituals, the information reveals.
Armed with information about this practice, activist T Narasimha Murthy has questioned the Muzrai department's (department for religious and charitable institutions) spending on the cash-rich Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, while several temples in the state are hard-pressed for funds to light camphor and lamps.
The information provided by the state government recently to Murthy has thrown up interesting facts, including the details about Karnataka's Muzrai department sponsoring rituals at one of Andhra Pradesh's temples. "The Mysore Yadu dynasty rulers had been donating ghee from Karnataka to Tirumala Tirupati temple for long. Later, the same was continued by the state government. The quantity of the ration was revised in a state government order dated 18-05-2005," according to details provided in response to the RTI appeal.
The information states the groceries are donated on seven occasions ever year - first, for everyday rituals, followed by Pallakki Utsav, Uttara Bhadra Asthana meant for every month, Navaratri Brahmarathotsava (September/October), Yugadi (March/April), for Anivara Ashthana (June/July) and, lastly, for Deepavali (October/November). Besides the items mentioned above, the checklist also includes, depending on the occasion, cashewnut, turmeric, tamarind, cumin seeds, groundnut, maida, arecanut, betel leaves, grapes, apple, and vegetables.
Murthy now plans to press the government to reconsider the practice. "We will appeal to the government to give a thought to sponsoring groceries for TTD (Tirumala Temple Devasthanams), the trust the manages the Tirupati temple, as it's, firstly, cash-rich, and, secondly, our own temples are struggling for funds. We will pursue the matter till the funds are utilised for temples in our State," Murthy told Bangalore Mirror.
Historians say the practice was started in 1610 by Raja Wadiyar with the donation quantities drastically going up during the time of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, who was more religiously inclined. "The Yadu dynasty rulers were great worshippers of Tirumala Balaji and Padmavati Amma. This tradition saw a new high during the tenure of Jayacham arajendra Wadiyar, who increased the quantity of donations. They have also donated to Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai Meenakshi and, even at Kashi, a chowltry (a resting place for visitors to a temple where food and lodging is provided at nominal rates) is funded by the state government, a practise handed over from the erstwhile royals," historian Nanjaraja Urasu told Bangalore Mirror. He said the tradition later became a commitment between two governments. "Donations and announcements on donations, including ornaments, were part of the royals' pilgrimage," Urasu said.
.JPG)
.JPG)
