‘Trust to be established for constructing Lord Venkateswara Temples’

Naidu criticized the previous government for permitting commercial establishments near the sacred site. “Approvals were granted to Mumtaz, Emaar, and Devlok hotels, allocating 35.32 acres of land close to the hills

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced the formation of a dedicated trust aimed at mobilizing funds for the construction of Lord Venkateswara temples in villages across the state that currently lack one. The announcement was made on Friday during his visit to the sacred town of Tirumala, where he and his family had darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

Speaking to the media, Naidu emphasized the significance of this initiative as a service to the Lord and the devotees. “While the Late N.T. Rama Rao introduced the Anna Danam (food distribution) programme, we have now brought in the Prana Danam (life donation) initiative. As the third step in this journey of service, we are now focusing on the construction of temples,” he stated.

The Chief Minister assured that the funds collected through this proposed trust would be used transparently and effectively. He also issued a stern warning against any illegal encroachments on land belonging to Lord Venkateswara. “If anyone illegally occupies lands that belong to the temple, strict action will be taken to reclaim them and restore them to the temple’s authority,” he declared.

As part of his family’s tradition, Naidu and his relatives personally participated in the food distribution programme at the Anna Vitharana Kendram on the occasion of his grandson Devansh’s birthday. He recalled that the Anna Danam programme initiated by NTR remains an enduring service to devotees and that his own introduction of the Prana Danam initiative was a further step in serving both the Lord and humanity.

Reaffirming the divine ownership of the Seven Hills by Lord Venkateswara, the Chief Minister stressed that the sacred site should neither be desecrated nor used for commercial activities. He recalled past controversies over claims that Tirumala consists of only five hills instead of seven and the attacks he faced while defending the sanctity of the region. “I survived an attack involving 24 claymore mines only by the grace of Lord Venkateswara,” he recounted.

Naidu criticized the previous government for permitting commercial establishments near the sacred site. “Approvals were granted to Mumtaz, Emaar, and Devlok hotels, allocating 35.32 acres of land close to the Hills. We are now repealing these permissions to ensure that no commercial activity takes place near Tirumala,” he stated firmly.

The Chief Minister urged employees of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to uphold the sanctity of the temple and refrain from using their positions for personal benefits. 

Furthermore, he reiterated that only Hindus should be employed within the TTD, citing that religious institutions of other faiths also maintain exclusivity in employment.

Naidu revealed that plans are underway to construct Lord Venkateswara temples in the capital cities of all Indian states. Additionally, efforts will be made to establish temples in countries where Hindus form a significant portion of the population. “We will soon reach out to Chief Ministers across the country to facilitate this noble mission,” he announced.

The initiative is seen as a major step towards expanding the spiritual footprint of Lord Venkateswara and ensuring that devotees, regardless of their location, have access to places of worship dedicated to the deity.