Date:05/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/05/stories/2004080503930500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Vaikhanasa Peetham defends TTD projects

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI, AUG. 4. The Sri Vaikhanasa Peetham, Tirumala, has today come out with a 16-page booklet defending the Mahaprakaram project and several other developmental works undertaken by the TTD as part of the implementation of its master plan designed to decongest the area around the Tirumala temple complex.

Counter to charges

The booklet comes in the wake of certain serious allegations raised in recent times by a section of Mathadhipathis that the works including the recent dismantling of the 1000-pillar mandapam situated opposite the temple were against the agamic principles and `Vaastu sastra.'

On the Mahaprakaram construction, the Vaikhanasa Peetham comprising renowned pundits asserted in its booklet that it was completely in consonance with the temple agama and vaastu sastra, which permitted temples to have up to six prakarams. The Peetham maintained that besides providing more space for the visiting pilgrims, the construction of the Mahaprakaram as an outer wall around the existing second prakaram.