TTD board approves temple construction in Colombo

Building a temple in Colombo in Sri Lanka, sanctioning funds to print simplified copies of the Bhagavad Gita and accepting Aarogyasri cards to extend cashless treatment in Sri Padmavati General Hospital for common diseases were some of the decisions taken by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board on Monday, 26 February.

Chaired by TTD chairman B Karunakara Reddy, the temple board approved the request of Sundar Lingam, president, of Sri Mayurapati Bhadrakali Amman Temple Trust to build Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Puttalam district in Colombo.

“Sundar Lingam requested TTD towards the construction of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Puttalam district, Colombo in Sri Lanka to which the board agreed and also decided to organise Srivari Kalyanam upon their request,” said a press release.

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Other decisions

• The board sanctioned ₹4 crore for printing 98 lakh copies of the Bhagavad Gita in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, and English to promote moral values in children.
• Sri Padmavati General Hospital, affiliated with Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), will offer cashless medical treatment to Aarogyasri health cardholders from 1 March for common diseases and super speciality medical procedures.
• The board decided to observe Tirupati town’s birthday on 24 February and include the event in the TTD calendar.
• New gold-plated doors for Jaya-Vijaya, the gatekeepers of Srivari temple, were approved at ₹1.69 crore to replace worn-out old doors.
• The construction of a permanent Yagashala, costing ₹4 crore for Sri Srinivasa Divyanugraha Homam, was approved by the board.
• Suggestions from various pontiffs during the Sanatana Dharmika Sadas were accepted and implemented.
• The honorary chief priest was removed for making baseless accusations against TTD officials, seers, priests, and Ahobila Mutt.

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