Photos: ~ Controversy over 'Sai Baba's Padukas in Tirumala Shrine

8/3/2019 Photos: ~ Controversy over 'Sai Baba's Padukas in Tirumala Shrine'

1/11

CONTROVERSY OVER ALLOWING SHIRDI SAI BABA'S

'PADUKAS' INTO TIRUMALA TEMPLE02nd Feb`2012

On 01st Feb`2012, for the 4th consecutive year in a row, an entourage ofover 600 Sai devotees from Maharashtra's Shree Sai Balaji CharitableTrust`Shirdi-Kopargaon came to Andhra Pradesh's

Tirumala Temple carrying Sai Baba's Photo / Silver Padukas (Footwear) &Shri Venkateswara's Photo in a Palkhi.

As they got out from the Tirupati Railway Station and after rituals at Alipiri,they took out a procession along the temple streets while dancing their waytowards the Shri.Venkateswara Temple alongside the sounds of Drums and

chants of 'Sai Baba Ki Jay' (Hail Sai Baba) and 'Govinda Govinda'.

As soon as they reached the Temple, the Trust Chairman of TirumalaTirupati Devasthanam (TTD) not only welcomed the entourage into the

Shri.Venkateswara Temple, but also carried Shirdi Sai Baba's Silver Padukasensconced in a glass case on his head and entered the temple right into the

Sanctum Sanctorum of the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.


2/11

This incident had caught the top brass of the 'TTD' is in the eye of a storm.Many priests & Seers condemned this move saying that "Sai Baba might be

a divine figure, but he was a human being and Carrying his footwear into theShri.Venkateswara Temple is blasphemy and is an alleged violation of

established customs of the Tirumala Tirupati shrine.

Various public, political and religious groups have also raised objections onthis incident, saying that it would be a sacrilege of the 2,000-year-old

ancient Hindu temple tradition.

Q) Entering a temple with footwear is considered to be blasphemy asper Hindu traditions.

But is it a sacrilege to carry footwear belonging to another Deity?

Ans) As per the customs in vogue in the Tirumala temple, no other deity orany religious insignia' other than that of Lord Venkateswara can be taken

beyond the Mahadwaram'-- the main entrance,leave alone carrying them into the Sanctum Sanctorum.

What baffles many is what were the TTD Authorities, Priests andJeeyangars, who were mandated to ensure strict adherence to the rules &

regulations, doing when Sai Baba's Padukas' were carried in a processioninto the temple, in violation of the Principles of Sastras'.

As per legend, even Lord Venkateswara himself left behind his footwear atAlipiri Padala Mandapam before going to Tirumala and Saint amanujacharya

had also trekked the holy Tirumala hills on his knees. The TTD had alsoprohibited wearing footwear in the temple streets at Tirumala.

Speaking on this controversy the 'TTD' said that they had only accorded atraditional welcome' to all the Sai devotees at Tirumala and provided them

darshan and as for carrying Sai Baba's Padukaspast 'Dwaja Stambam', was nothing controversial as the Padukas were made

of silver and were meant for worship and not to to be used as footwear.


3/11

Defending the TTD Trust Boards Chairman initiative in this regard,the Chairman of Chittoor Shirdi Sai Baba Charitable Trust said that certainvested elements without comprehending the preachings and ideology of

Shirdi Sai Baba were raising unwanted & unacceptable doubts

just to create confusion among the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam authorities& Lord Venkateswara's devotees.

She reiterated that it had become a sacred tradition of carrying the SaiPadukas all the way from Shirdi to Tirumala in order to respect the

sentiments of Hindus. She said that above 1 lakh devotees per day from theIndia & abroad visit Shirdi. She recalled that there were a number of Sai

Baba Temples in the district comparatively equal or more to Ramalayams.Both Lord Venkateswara & Sadguru Sai Baba are one and the same. Oneshould keep the sloka Sarvadeva Namaskaram Kesavam Prathigathyati

(Aditya Hrudayam) in mind.

According to Bhagavid Gita also, Lord Krishna tells that Sadgurus are hisreplicas, she added. She appealed to the devotees not to discriminate

among the Gods, as God is one in different forms. She said most devotees ofLord Venkateswara worship Shirdi Sai Baba also.


4/11


5/11


6/11


7/11


8/11


9/11


10/11

On yOur way,while Driving,if yOu see a "Dead End" rOad Sign,but yet cOntinue to Drive ahead.....

bOOmmmm !!!..........yOu are dOOmed !

Because,merely reading the Sign is nOt enOugh,

yOu have tO gOt tO fOllOw it tOO !


11/11

Likewise, On yOur way, while Spiritualizing,if yOu read the Teachings of Sai Baba,

but yet cOntinue to act as yOu Wish.....bOOmmmm !!!..........yOu are dOOmed !

Because,merely reading the Teachings is nOt enOugh,

yOu have tO gOt tO fOllOw them tOO !

rOhit beHaL

Documents

Photos: ~ Controversy over 'Sai Baba's Padukas in Tirumala Shrine