Fact check: Lighting at Tirumala temple represents 'Purna Kumbham', not Christian Cross
Images of the lighting decorations on Tirumala temple are being shared with the claim that decorations resemble Cross...
By Satya Priya BN Published on 29 Dec 2020 5:30 AM GMT
On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, several temples including Tirumala Venkateswara Swami temple was decorated with flowers and lighting.
Images of the lighting decorations on Tirumala temple are being shared with the claim that the decorations resemble 'Cross' that represents Christianity.
These messages claimed that the lighting decorations were shaped like a Cross deliberately, and Vaikunta Ekadasi and Christmas were celebrated the same day. Even the leaders wished others 'Merry Christmas'.
Fact Check:
The claim that the lighting on the Tirumala Temple resembles a Christian 'Cross' is FALSE.
To understand the images shown, we searched for reports published on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day showing the celebrations.
The visuals clearly show that the decorations do not resemble Cross They represent 'Purna Kumbham' which is very auspicious in Hindu culture.
Taking a serious note of the baseless social media report about the "Cross" mark on Tirumala temple, TTD Additional EO Sri AV Dharma Reddy said a case has been registered against the social media portal and the miscreants. He appealed to devotees not to fall prey to such baseless reports. He asserted TTD is committed to the promotion of Hindu Sanatana Dharma. He said this is an act by some vested interests to defame the reputation of TTD.
Speaking at Tirumala temple on December 28, he said a case has been registered against the Facebook URL page- `Talapatranidhi'- which had mischievously morphed the electric decorative figure of Kalasha on Srivari temple outer walls into a Christian Cross.
He said during all festivals various electrical decorations including lord Hanuman, Garuda, Tirunamam, and Purna Kalasha delight the religious sentiments of the visiting pilgrims in the illumination.
The devotees also expressed serious anguish and dismay over these baseless reports by social media portal and a section of media.
Additional EO also warned that such miscreants and their intentional and vituperative acts to defame the Tirumala Divya Kshetra, the abode of Lord Venkateswara will not be tolerated.
A local reporter also responded and rushed to the temple to prove that these claims are FALSE.
The clarification by TTD has also been published in several Telugu news media.
https://tv9telugu.com/tdd-
Hence, the claim that the lighting decorations placed on Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy temple resembles 'Cross' is FALSE. The lighting represents 'Purna Kumbham'.
