Tirumala Devasthanam To Explore Participation Of Muslims In Srivari Seva To Offer Voluntary Services

TTD executive officer (EO) A V Dharma Reddy also acknowledged the dedication of Muslim devotees of Lord Venkateswara. 

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday said it will explore the option of Muslim devotees participating in Srivari Seva (voluntary service) for the deity in Tirumala. In response to a request from Muslim devotee Hussain Bhasha of Naidupeta during the monthly "dial your EO" program, TTD executive officer (EO) A V Dharma Reddy acknowledged the dedication of Muslim devotees of Lord Venkateswara. 

In a press release, Reddy said, despite their affiliation with a different religious faith expressed his happiness over the dedication of the devotees.  He also said that devotees from various faiths have been contributing donations to the deity.

The EO assured Bhasha that he would examine the feasibility of his request. Srivari Seva, initiated in 2000, involves voluntary service to enhance services for pilgrims visiting from different parts of the country and the world. 

Srivari Sevakulu (those rendering Srivari Seva) contribute to various areas of TTD, including vigilance, health, annaprasadam, garden, medical, laddu prasadam (consecrated food), temple, transport, kalyanakkatta, book stalls, and more. TTD is the official custodian of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.

Meanwhile, Ashtadala Pada Padmaaradhana is a ritual initially introduced in the Srivari Temple in 1984 during the Golden Jubilee Year of TTD, commemorating the occasion when a Muslim devotee presented Lord Srinivasa with 108 gold lotuses. The archaka, or temple priest, initiates the puja by offering dhupa (arti stick) and dipa (lit lamp) to the main deity. Following this, the priest recites the divine names (108) of the Lord, according to TTD website.

With each utterance of the Lord's name, a golden lotus is reverently offered at the holy feet of the deity. Once the archana (ritual of offering) to the Mula Virat (main deity) is complete, archana is also extended to Goddesses Lakshmi and Padmavati. Subsequently, Ratha Harati is presented first, followed by the ordinary Harati as part of the sacred ceremony.