"BHAGAVAT RAMANUJACHARYA IS THE GREATEST PHILOSOPHER AND BIGGEST SOCIAL REFORMER OF THE MILLENNIUM"-GOVERNOR

Tirupati, 10 May 2016: Describing the great Sri Vaishnava as the "Greatest Philosopher and Biggest Social Reformer of the Millennium", the Honourable Governor of two Telugu Speaking states, HE Sri ESL Narasimhan Garu complimented TTD for its efforts in organising a year long massive programme commemorating the 1000th Birth Anniversary of the great Acharya Purusha.

SHINING JEWEL OF SRIVAISHAVA PHILOSOPHY:

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Utsavalu organised by the temple management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) which commenced on a grand religious note in Mahati Auditorium in Tirupati on Tuesday the Honourable Governor who graced the occasion, said, Ramanujacharya was one of the most versatile philosophers of this great country who dedicated his entire 120 long years of life for propagation, preservation and promotion of the tenets of the Sri Vaishnava Philosophy and became the "Shining jewel of Srivaishnavism ".

PREACHER OF SOCIAL EQUALITY:

Enlightening on the life history of the great vaishnavacharya, the Governor said, Ramanujacharya taught the humanity to live a life with "Love and Affection"
"Social Harmony and Equality is the essence of his teachings which he taught in his style 1000 years ago. The nine books which he has penned were Navarathnas and immortal works", he added.

TOTAL SURRENDER TO LORD TO ATTAIN SALVATION:

Adding further, Sri Narasimhan briefed on the quintessence of Sri Ramanujacharya's teachings which included Duty, Devotion and Dedication towards the execution of ones responsibilities, Faith and belief in God and keeping good company, Total Surrender towards Lord and attain salvation which is common to all irrespective of caste, creed, sex etc., inculcating the five important qualities of Ahimsa, Daya, Satya, Arjava and Kshama to lead a happy life.

DEVELOPMENT OF TIRUMALA NAMBI TEMPLE AND GOLD PEETHAM TO BHASHYAKARULA VARU IN TIRUMALA:

The honourable Governor poured in accolades on TTD mandarins for organising such a big event to give a befitting tribute to a Maha Acharya who revived Puja Kainkaryams in the temples of Tirumala and Tirupati in a big way.

"My hearty congratulations to TTD for planning this event in a big way for the impeccable contributions made by Sri Ramanujacharya. "Especially the Ramanuja Sanchara Radha Yatra initiated by TTD covering all the 106 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams with the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy, Sri Devi, Bhudevi and Sri Bhashyakarulavaru is excellent", he reiterated.

He asked the TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao to develop the Tirumala Nambi temple situated in Tirumala on this auspicious occasion, since it is Sri Tirumala Nambi, the maternal uncle of Sri Ramanujacharya who identified the profound knowledge in Sri Ramanuja for the first time. "Another important development which I feel is appropriate is of a Swarna Peetham to Bhashyakarulavaru in the place of existing silver peetham in the Tirumala Shrine that will be a great tribute for this ceremonious occasion", he maintained.

"SRI RAMANAUJA WAS THE CUSTODIAN OF HINDU SANATANA DHARMA"-CHINNA JIYAR SWAMI OF TIRUMALA

Tirumala Sri Chinna Jiyar Swamy in his Anugraha Bhashanam during this auspicious occasion stated that three philosophers have brought revolutionary reforms in India including Sri Adi Sankaracharya, Sri Ramanujacharya and Sri Madhwacharya.

Bhagavat Ramanujacharya advocated Visishtadwaita philosophy where he preached the concept of Bhakti to All irrespective of caste and creed and brought the human being closer to Lord.

The junior pontiff of Tirumala described Sri Ramanujacharya as the "Guardian and Custodian of Hindu Sanatana Dharma".

RAMANUJA SANCHARA RADHA YATRA IN ALL 106 VAISHNAVA DIVYA DESAVAMS

Earlier TTD Trust Board Chief Dr Ch Krishnamurthy, TTD EO Dr D sambasiva Rao, board members Sri DP Ananta, Sri AV Ramana, JEOs Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, Sri P Bhaskar  the Vice-chancellor of Sri Venkateswara Vedic University Sri KE Devanathan, in their message stated that this event will spread the concept of Hindu Sanatana Dharma across the country as the Ramanuja Sanchara Ratham travels across the country covering all the 106 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams in the next one year.

SPECIAL WEB PAGE, BOOKS AND CDs RELEASED

Meanwhile on this special occasion TTD has dedicated a special web page on Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Utsavams in its official web site. Some books and CDs were also released. The books included Vedarta Sangrahaha, Gadyatraya Prabandham, Yuddhakanda and Utttarakanda of Ramayana, Bhagavat Ramanujulu while the CDs included Annamaiah Ramanuja Sankeertanalu and Nalayira Divya Prabandham. These books and CDs can be downloaded free of cost from the website.

SHARANAGATI GADYAM RENDERED:

Earlier the programme commenced on a melodious note with the staffs and students of Sri Venkateswara College of Music and Dance rendering Sharanagati Gadyam penned by Sri Ramanujacharya.

The Asthana Vidhwan of TTD Dr G Balakrishna Prasad along with his team rendered the keertans of Sri Annamacharya penned exclusively on Sri Bhasyakarula varu and enthralled the audience.

All Projects Special officer Sri N Muktheswara Rao, Transport and IT Wing Head
Sri Sesha Reddy, Chief Engineer Sri Chandrasekhar Reddy, Alwar Divya Prabandham Project Special Officer Sri Chokkalingam and other important officers were also present.