TIRUPATI: Former chief priest of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Srinivasa Murthy Deekshitulu who tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to the state Covid hospital at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati passed away early on Monday morning.
The 75-year-old deceased belonged to Archakam Peddinti mirasi family, one of the four families associated with the Tirumala temple for several centuries.
He was one among the four priests from the hereditary families who were forcibly retired from priesthood at the Tirumala temple by the erstwhile TTD Trust board during the Telugu Desam party regime in the state.
As the present government too only partially reinstated the services of Dr AV Ramana Deekshitulu alone, Srinivasa Murthy Deekshitulu was not reinstated to the position from which he was forcibly retired.
Speaking to TOI, SVIMS Director Dr B Vengamma said that the former TTD chief priest was admitted to the state Covid hospital after he tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.
"He had other comorbidities. The former chief priest was diabetic and had kidney related problems. He passed away while undergoing treatment early this morning", stated SVIMS director.
Reliable sources said 75-year-old deceased priest contracted Covid-19 from his family members who tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
The deceased's elder son AP Dayanidhi Deekshitulu works at TTD's Govindaraja Swamy temple, while his younger son AP Narasimha Deekshitulu works at the Tirumala temple. It is learnt both of them have given their samples for Covid-19 screening recently and their test results were awaited.
Ambuiguity prevails over performing final rites as per centuries old customs
As per the laid down customs and traditions, when a serving or a retired priest from the four hereditary priests families associated with the Tirumala temple passes away, the temple sends fire, sandalwood, garlands and other sacred articles on an elephant to the residence of the deceased priest in order to carry out the final rites.
But owing to Covid-19 protocols related to disposal of Covid deceased's body, ambiguity prevails over performing final rites to the former chief priest as per the ancient customs.
The 75-year-old deceased belonged to Archakam Peddinti mirasi family, one of the four families associated with the Tirumala temple for several centuries.
He was one among the four priests from the hereditary families who were forcibly retired from priesthood at the Tirumala temple by the erstwhile TTD Trust board during the Telugu Desam party regime in the state.
As the present government too only partially reinstated the services of Dr AV Ramana Deekshitulu alone, Srinivasa Murthy Deekshitulu was not reinstated to the position from which he was forcibly retired.
Speaking to TOI, SVIMS Director Dr B Vengamma said that the former TTD chief priest was admitted to the state Covid hospital after he tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.
"He had other comorbidities. The former chief priest was diabetic and had kidney related problems. He passed away while undergoing treatment early this morning", stated SVIMS director.
Reliable sources said 75-year-old deceased priest contracted Covid-19 from his family members who tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
The deceased's elder son AP Dayanidhi Deekshitulu works at TTD's Govindaraja Swamy temple, while his younger son AP Narasimha Deekshitulu works at the Tirumala temple. It is learnt both of them have given their samples for Covid-19 screening recently and their test results were awaited.
Ambuiguity prevails over performing final rites as per centuries old customs
As per the laid down customs and traditions, when a serving or a retired priest from the four hereditary priests families associated with the Tirumala temple passes away, the temple sends fire, sandalwood, garlands and other sacred articles on an elephant to the residence of the deceased priest in order to carry out the final rites.
But owing to Covid-19 protocols related to disposal of Covid deceased's body, ambiguity prevails over performing final rites to the former chief priest as per the ancient customs.
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