TIRUMALA: Tirumala Temple, one of the most sacred pilgrimage shrines among Hindus, is in the eye of a proselytising storm. A video that went viral early this month, shows how the place seems to have become the preferred target of Christian evangelists for winning over new converts.
The video footage 'Christian Missionaries Active in Tirumala and also Converting Kids' has outraged millions of Lord Venkateswara devotees worldwide, as well as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), an independent trust which oversees the operations and finances of the richest and the most visited religious centre in the world. The video shows pastor Sudhir Mondithoka and his fellow clergymen, encouraging religious conversions in front of the main temple complex. The men also reportedly made some derogatory remarks against the deity.
While VHP and Bajrang Dal activists held protests across Andhra Pradesh, the state government, too, took note of the matter and issued a statement that the government would not tolerate propagation of other religions right in front of Tirumala Temple.
Hyderabad-born Mondithoka added fuel to the fire. “Secular cops and vigilance wing sleuths helped me reach Tirumala,” he claimed. He added that none of the security officers told him that his deeds were prohibited at Tirumala. He was arrested.
There is a blanket ban on any religious activities other than those of Hindu religion at Tirumala. Earlier governments had prohibited religious propaganda in the 250 sq km area covered by the seven hills—Tirumala, Seshadri, Garudadri, Venkatadri, Narayanadri, Vrishabhadri, Vrishadri and Anjanadri.