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Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s 3-day conclave ends with plans to stop conversions among Hindus, propagate Hindu Dharma & initiate non-Hindus into Sanatana Dharma.

TTD Chairmam Karunakar Reddy stressed upon revival of dilapidated temples.

The Hindu Dharma conference concluded that it is necessary to teach as many people as possible to protect their religion and promote spirituality in every person.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to start a system to prevent religious conversions and encourage “ghar wapsi” for Hindus who converted to other religions in the past.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy on Monday said the discriminatory attitude of some sections of the Hindu society towards certain castes has led to religious conversions especially in rural areas, adding that TTD would take initiatives to prevent such conversions in the state and encourage “ghar wapsi” (reconversion) of the Hindus who had converted into other religions in the past. TTD will establish a system to take the initiative forward, he said.

“The three-day conference suggested that religious activities in Harijanawadas and Girijanawadas, like Dalita Govindam and Girijan Govindam, construction of Hindu temples in their respective areas and appointment of priests belonging to SCs and STs in such temples have to be taken in a widespread manner to avoid conversions,” Reddy said while briefing reporters on the resolutions adopted at the conclusion of Dharmika Sadas at Tirumala.

The Dharmika Sadas observed that many of the youngsters belonging to Hinduism are changing their religion due to poverty and the influence of the environment around them. “The conference concluded that many training camps and other schemes are necessary to put an end to this situation,” he said.

Stating that the TTD would take initiatives to encourage “ghar wapsi” of such people who want to come back to Hinduism, Reddy said it was resolved that the TTD would establish a system for the same.

“If people of any other religious faiths voluntarily come forward to practise Hinduism, such people will be initiated into Hinduism by a “samprokshana” (sprinkling of sacred water) ceremony at the Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala,” the TTD chairman said.

Such converted Hindus would be provided with a darshan of the Lord on the same day. Subsequently, they would be trained in Hindu rituals and taught traditions and practices as part of the Sanatana Dharma, he said.

The Dharmika Sadas resolved that Itihasas and Puranas (ancient Hindu religious scriptures) would be propagated in a big way so that all sections of people, right from children to adults, can easily understand the essence. “For this, there is a need to train Dharma Pracharakas (propagators of Dharma),” he said.

Among other resolutions adopted at the conclave are: development of Tirupati as a spiritual city to create a spiritual atmosphere on the lines of Tirumala, restoration of dilapidated temples across the state, construction of temples in Dalit, tribal and fishermen colonies in a big way, taking up of special measures for the protection of cows, promotion of Dravidian Vedas and extensive usage of social media to promote the principles of Sanatana Dharma to every nook and corner of the society.

TTD constructed thousands of temples in the backward areas under SRIVANI Trust and would continue the programme. ‘Gou Samrakshana’ activity would be taken forward in a widespread manner to protect cows. Measures would be taken towards the preservation of Veda Dharma and Vedic sciences Hindu Sanatana Dharma needs to be propagated so that its essence reaches every common man and village folk. The place of a mother is highly revered in the society. So mothers should be given training in Hindu Sanatana Dharma so that they could teach their children from a tender age and make them good citizens.

 The Dravida Veda, which was given by the 12 Alwars for the welfare of mankind, akin to Vedas would be encouraged. The priority of Hindu Dharma should be emphasised in the existing curricula of various schools. To teach Telugu and Sanskrit to young men and women to understand and practice Hinduism. The principles of Sanatana Dharma should reach every nook and corner utilising the tools of social media in a big way. Such conferences should be held in Tirumala or Tirupati once every year as this conference contributes to the preservation of Hindu Dharma. Dharmic sadas to be held at village and district levels to enlighten the rural masses. The resolutions passed in this conference should be implemented not only by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams but also by all the Hindu religious and charitable institutions present across the globe towards the preservation of Hindu Dharma.

The participants also felt that Hindu dharmic activities need to be taken up in a widespread manner in Harijanawadas and Girijanawadas to avoid conversions. “During the conference, the members opined that Dharmic programmes will be successful only when they reach the target audience. So, it is necessary to teach as many people as possible to protect their religion and promote spirituality in every person,’’ the TTD Trust Board chairman said.

Asserting that temples help inculcate good manners in society, Karunakara Reddy said, “Thousands of temples are crumbling, and in some places, they are disappearing altogether. Revival of dilapidated temples and construction of mandirs in Dalit, tribal and fishing areas need to be taken up in a big way.’’

He added that the TTD has already constructed thousands of temples in backward areas under SRIVANI Trust and will continue the programme.

The TTD has received several suggestions from the pontiffs, which include propagating ‘Itihasas’ and ‘Puranas’ (written texts of Hinduism) to all sections of people to help them understand their essence easily.

The TTD has also decided to train women in the ways of Sanatana Dharma so that they could teach their children to be “good citizens of Bharat” from a young age.

Sixty Pontiffs and Spiritual Gurus

Chilkur Balaji Temple head priest CS Rangarajan lauded the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), under the chairmanship of Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy, for conducting the Dharmika sadas with over 60 pontiffs and spiritual gurus.

The priest cited an instance from the Munivahana Utsavam in 2018 where he had carried a Dalit on his shoulders in Jiyaguda to demonstrate that Sanatana Dharma does not discriminate against anyone. This incident received a lot of positive responses from devotees, he added.

The priest said that the Ahobila Mutt is spearheading the move in involving Chenchus as Narasimha Dasas and during the Paruvetta Utsavam, the deity of Ahobilam – Sri Prahlada Varada – travels to 44 villages in a palanquin and spends time in the most backward areas in Ahobilam.

—subham—

Tags- Tirupati, TTD, Hindu Conference, resolutions, conversion