Tirumala: TTD mulls allowing voluntary participation of Muslims in Srivari Seva

Tirumala: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is considering launching Tirumala as a platform for other religious faiths who have immense respect and faith in Hindu religious practices.

During the concluding remarks in the session of Vedic Sadas on Sunday, TTD Trust board chairman Bhumana Karunakara Reddy said, that as part of its chief mission to take forward Hindu Sanatana Dharma propagation, they are looking at the possibilities of Muslim devotees rendering Srivari Seva (voluntary service) to the deity in Tirumala.

“Hindu Sanatana Dharma is the oldest religious faith in the world which preaches the human to lead a righteous way of life and we welcome those from other religious faiths who voluntarily come forward to practice the Hindu way of life,” said Reddy.

Initiation at Lord Venkateswara Swamy’s idol

He said the devotees from other faiths and religions who voluntarily come forward to join the Hindu way of life will be trained in Hindu rituals, traditions and practices taught in Hindu Sanatana Dharma and this programme will be initiated at the Lotus Feet of Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala, he asserted amidst grand applause from the pontiffs who participated in the Dharmika Sadas.

A few days ago, TTD EO AV Dharma Reddy reacted to a Muslim devotee from Naidupeta, Hussain Bhasha, asking for an opportunity to Muslim devotees of Lord Venkateswara to render Srivari Seva.

Dial Your EO programme has wide audience

According to the TTD, several devotees belonging to other faiths have been making donations to the deity while replying to Bhasha during the monthly ‘Dial Your EO’ programme. The EO promised Bhasha to verify the possibility of his request.

Launched in 2000, Srivari Seva is a voluntary service aimed at offering better services to pilgrims coming from far-flung parts of the country and the world. The services of Srivari Sevakulu (renderers of Srivari Seva) are utilised in over 60 areas of TTD, such as vigilance, health, annaprasadam and laddu prasadam (consecrated food), garden, medical, temple, transport, kalyanakkatta, book stalls and others.