Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Under Mahants

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Under Mahants

In 1841, the Court of Directors of the East lndia Company ordered the immediate withdrawal from all interference with native temples. The intention of the Government ran the manifesto, that the interference of all the public officers either with the internal arrangement of the religious institutions in question or with the administration of their revenues and funds of every description shall in altogether withdrawn and be vested in those individuals who, professing the same faith, may be' thought best qualified to conduct the administration with regularity, such individuals together with their subordinate officers being held responsible to the court of Justice for any breach of the deities or trusts assumes by them.

In pursuance of this resolution, the Tirumala Temple was handed over one Sevadas, the Mahanth of Hathiramji Matham of Tirupati. From 1843 to 1933 AD six generations of Mahants by discipleship exercised authority as the Vicharanakartas of the Devasthanams. During the management of the temple by the Mahants, the Swami Pushkarini, Markandeya, Agni, Yama, Vashista, Varuna, Kubera and Yuddhagala Theerthams were renovated. The Kapila Theertham as well as the surrounding mandapas were renovated during the time of the Vicharanakartas.

Sri Mahanth Sevadusji also constructed the other gopuram of the temple in Tirumala called the Padikavli Gopuram along with certain other mandapams. This was in the year of AD 1878 obviously the mention is regarding his renovation of the outer gopuram. An Inscription records that one Rainalakshmanadasa fixed a gold kalasam on the Vimanam of the temple in the year 1908. Two rest houses were also constructed at Tirupati and sheds put up at Tirumala besides 15 quarters in the thousand pillared Mandapam in Tirumala. Sometimes conveniences were also provided and pathway made safer by the installation of electric lights throughout the route in 1929 under the Mahants.

The last Vicharanakartha of Temple Mahant Prayagadasa constructed the extensive first Satram for the pilgrims near Railway station in Tirupati. After the Mountford reforms were introduced in 1919, the Government felt the need of the legislation on the religious endowments. The Raja of Pangal, the then Chief Minister of Madras state, conceived the idea of establishing a Board of Commissioners on the lines of the Board of Charity Commission in England to have full control over the religious institutions.

A bill was accordingly drafted and the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act came into existence in 1925. The Hindu Religious Endowments Board (HREB) was formed with a president and four Commissioners having power of supervision and control over the temples and Mats. Later, a number of defects were soon found in the working of the Act of 1925. As the Madathipathies and some managers of temples questioned the validity of the Act, 1927 was the first legislation of its kind in India with regard to the religious institutions.

This act became an important religious Act whose model has been copied years late by other states in the country. In order to remedy the defects discovered in the working of the Act, several Acts have been brought out since 1927. The system of the Sanathanatars settled down during this period. Temple accountants called Tirumnara also made their appearance having power to maintain accounts. This is sure that this temple became very prosperous during this period needing the assistance of Accountants for the maintenance of temple accounts. The temple accounts actually first make its appearance in the year AD 1380.