M.V.R. Sastry’s Devudunnadu Jagratha – A detailed examination – Part 1

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The systematic destruction of Andhra Pradesh’s hereditary temple system: A historical account

I have known Sri M.V.R. Sastry for two decades now. He is meticulous in his research and possesses an exceptional command of Telugu, choosing words that evoke hearty laughter, pierce the stone-hearted, or leave a lasting impact. His unique style and uncompromising attitude elevate him above many journalists, who can only dream of creating works like the book I am currently examining.

Until reading Sastry’s latest book, I was unaware of the people behind it and the complete background of how a fundamentally flawed and biased report dismantled the hereditary Archakatvam (priestly services) in Andhra Pradesh, thereby destroying an ancient religious system. Sastry offers a detailed view of how and why this malicious report emerged, highlighting the dramatic figures behind its conception and execution. This article marks the beginning of a series of takeaways from this groundbreaking book.

Ramoji Rao, the Nastika media baron who laid our Mandirs barren

Those were the days when the Print Media dominated people’s minds. There was no electronic or social media. What was printed was deemed to be true. Owners, editors, and journalists set the narrative. In such a scenario, Eenadu was the largest circulated Telugu Daily. Its owner Ramoji Rao was the number 1 in setting narratives. When the larger-than-life Screen God N T Rama Rao decided to take a political avatar, it was Ramoji Rao’s Eenadu that set a positive narrative of NTR and ensured a meteoric rise of NTR the politician. His every movement, down to his cough and sneeze was eulogized. The screen Devudu took his political Avataram. Ramoji had a big hand in setting the narrative and swaying public opinion in favour of NTR. And NTR became the Chief Minister. Subsequently, when Nadendla Bhaskar Rao usurped the CM seat, dethroning NTR, Ramoji succeeded in mobilizing public fury against the undemocratic outrage which ultimately catapulted NTR back to power. These historic developments made Eenadu immensely popular as a champion of public interest. Ramoji Rao misused this popularity by destroying the age-old temple system and the ancient system of hereditary Archakatvam through a campaign of misinformation and disinformation in his newspaper.

Let me show you from this book how he went about this systematically. Directing each step to perfection. Realizing his power to sway public opinion to its fullest. True to his gleeful anticipation, the stupid Hindus took the bait. And as usual, decided to remain perpetual cowards. Without showing a semblance of spine to think. To question. To stand up and be counted.

When you have the pen, you do not need the sword

We are now familiar with the infamous hit jobs of Heidenberg. How Twitter (X) in its earlier avatar, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok apart from various entities of our MSM had operated to create false narratives. Destroying the fickle-minded people’s confidence in culture. And therefore, causing hurt to civilizations. Long before these entities, a Nasthika Press & Entertainment baron Ramoji Rao of Eenadu was perhaps the precursor to creating narratives. Destroying generations of practice that ultimately destroyed thousands of Mandirs. No blood was shed in this campaign. A pliable Judge, Chella Kondiah was chosen by the government as the efficient tool. Chief Minister N T Rama Rao perhaps had no clue about the aftermath of the mischief he was being led into. Add to this destructive mix, an insider in Anna Rao the spineless Chairman of TTD, a handful of Archaka gumasthas who had a personal axe to grind, splash snake oil generously, print reams of newsprint, drain litres of ink. So easy to lead stupid Hindu readers to get swayed by the unfolding of a CinemaScope on newsprint. Trust a bunch of no-good legislators who barely read the 600-odd-page report, yet passed 15 chapters and 160 sections of it in a bizarre drama of pretend discussion in under 5 hours. No sword. No war. Just destroy the vacillating Hindu faith in their system. Successful hit job on the top Hindu Mandir. And lay 30,000 Mandirs barren.

I had always maintained, disrupt Balaji Mandir, you can disrupt EVERY mandir. Anywhere. The powerful anti-Brahmana Nastika did just that. The Hindu society has since been paying a heavy price. For consistently being a generational coward.

What Sastry reveals in his book is a horrifying narrative of how Ramoji and Challa Kondiah went about this methodical destruction of the system. Let me attempt to summarise this dark background of history hitherto untold in such detail.

This happened about 40 years ago. When Sastry was the Assistant Editor of Eenadu. He was called by the owner Ramoji Rao for a meeting. Rao told him- “Justice Challa Kondiah wants to say something. Just go and meet him.” Sastry proceeded along with a senior colleague to the residence of the Justice. Challa Kondiah Commission was much talked about by the public in those days. People were waiting with bated breath for the report to be made public. Obviously, the journalist in Sastry was in high spirits at the prospect of what he assumed was getting an exclusive interview with the Justice. The judge received them with great warmth. And made a cautionary preamble: “Never quote my name in anything that you are going to write. Our inquiry has brought out many startling things. The common man will not get to read my report. I will tell you a lot of things. You may decide what to do with the inputs.” He started his tirade against the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s Archaka Mirasi system. The judge went on to slander the Archaka fraternity as drunkards, and womanizers, And that they had the Saptavyasanas (Gambling, meat, alcohol, etc.,). That the Hereditary Archakas are sitting on a pile of money. Squandering the money recklessly. He made a detailed screenplay for the attentive journalists. Rubbishing the learned Archakas and protectors of Vaikhanasa Agama as people lacking in knowledge of Mantras. Blaming them for all the ills of the administration of the Mandirs.

Sastry admits that at that point in time, he was a Nastika himself. Both the journalists were thrilled at having received explosive inputs from the Judge himself. Gave the Justice their word that he will not be named as the source in the articles. On his way back, Sastry was already planning how he would write the article.

When they returned to Ramoji Rao, they explained in detail what they heard from Justice Challa Kondiah. Ramoji Rao gave them a sinister grin and asked Sastry’s junior to write the campaign. While Sastry was disappointed at not getting the opportunity to do the campaign, in hindsight he realized later in life that it was God’s will that his pen was not ordained to do the sin of destroying thousands of Mandirs.

Thus started the vicious campaign in Eenadu titled “Kaliyuga Vaikuntapali.” It was splashed on the front page as a serial. These articles created havoc in the minds of the fickle readers and prejudiced the minds of the gullible public. Swaying their opinion against the then-prevailing hereditary Archaka system of Tirumala. The Editorial team of Eenadu perhaps under the instructions of Ramoji Rao briefed in advance some influential opinion makers and public figures, took their interviews, and published them amidst much fanfare. The team gave inputs to some celebrities to write articles on the issue, supporting the dismantling of the hereditary Archakatvam of Tirumala Mandir. Got people to write supportive letters in hundreds to the Chella Kondiah Commission, making demands of abolishing hereditary Archakatvam. Amidst great fanfare, the Chief Minister received the report from Chella Kondiah in a much-brandished public show and instantly announced with his usual cinematic flourish, its immediate follow-up This automatically led to the Dahana samskara of the 1966 Act and the Special Act of TTD of 1979, clubbing the separate entity, the TTD into the vast cesspool of the new Endownments Act. In its editorial, Eenadu termed it as a revolutionary change. This malicious propaganda tarnished the image of the Mirasi Archakas and the Archakas in general. Sensationalism that killed centuries-old tradition.

There are thousands of Mandirs in Andhra Pradesh that were affected by the abolishment of the Mirasi Archaka system. Unlike Tirumala, most of these Mandirs never had the financial resources. These Mandirs were maintained and Pujas were conducted unfailingly by the devout Mirasi Archakas of the villages and towns. Each of these Mandirs faced insurmountable problems for the Dhupa Deepa Naivedyam and Trikala pujas. The Archakas of such Mandirs were driven to poverty. Yet, most of them continued to do Seva to the Bhagawan despite living in abject poverty.

Passing of the malicious Act in AP Legislature- faster than an F1 race

In August 1965, the then HRCE Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao introduced the Bill and, in his wisdom, recommended that it should be placed before a select committee. 21 members of the committee from both Houses examined each clause under the microscope, discussed with those concerned and connected, discussed with experts in the field, religious heads, and institutions for 10 months, made changes accordingly, and finally got the House to pass the Bill in 1966.

Contrast the approach of P.V. Narasimha Rao and the then House members to the ones seen in 1987. The Bill based on the recommendations of Challa Kondiah was introduced on 4th April in the Assembly. It was a cyclostyled copy. Four days later copies of the printed version were handed over to the members of the Assembly. Perhaps they were afraid “What if the members were given time to read and find it as malicious?” Therefore, the discussion was scheduled for the very next day. On April 9th, 1987, the discussion took place for 5 hours between 4 PM and 9 PM. In these 5 hours, we are given to understand that 15 Chapters and 160 sections of the Bill was read, discussed, and passed with the Opposition staging a customary walkout.

When the government was asked how such a crucial bill was passed hurriedly without proper discussions, the Government responded that the Challa Kondiah Commission had applied its mind, and discussed it with various stakeholders, experts, and the public. Therefore, there was no need to discuss this further in the Assembly! But did Challa Kondiah really talk to the stakeholders, experts in the field, and religious heads, before writing out a cantankerous report?

Chella Kondiah visited a total of 6 Mandirs. All have an annual collection of over 50 lakhs. He never visited any village Mandir or any of the smaller Mandirs under hereditary Archakatvam. Challa Kondiah had discussions with two people. One was Swami Ranganadhananda, Head of Ramakrishna Mission. No doubt a great intellectual. Yet, the head of the same Ramakrishna Mission gave in writing years ago that it is not a Hindu institution. How can a Justice approach one such institution that had no locus standi in matters relating to Hindu temples and their administration? Yet another intellectual that Challa Kondiah consulted on the Hindu Mandir’s issue is an ex-Governor, Akbar Ali Khan! So much for the credibility of Justice Kondiah’s expert study and recommendations. The Acharyas of Ahobilam, Kanchi, and Sringeri were never consulted by the learned Justice Challa Kondiah. When the commission was formed in 1984, it had 6 members. Within a year, membership shrunk to 3. At the time of formation, the Peetadhipathi of Coutralam Sri Sri Sri Trivikrama Ramananda Swami was there in the commission. He recused himself with honour, after the very first meeting, proclaiming that there was immense pressure on Him to accept the unacceptable and that the final report had already been pre-decided. This was reported by a small section of media those days.

If there was one Punyatma who had observed the commission, the devastating effect it is bound to have not just on the Mirasi Archakas, but the entire religious functioning of Mandirs, it was Sriman Prof Dr.M.V. Soundararajan, Hereditary Dharmakartha, Chilkur Balaji Mandir. He was at that time Registrar of Osmania University. He sensed the dangers of the new Act. Spoke to all the religious heads, and elders in the Hindu Samaj, Hindu organizations, Archakas, Acharyas, and Dharmadhikaris, and held countless public meetings on the ills of this draconian Act. Spent days and nights meeting those who had the power to correct the situation. Sadly, the Punyatma’s efforts went unrewarded. None of the so-called Hindu Organisations realized the danger. Nor showed any interest. None came openly to condemn the Act. To mobilise the “non-existent” Hindu force. The Hindu Samaj remained Nalayak. As usual. Has anyone questioned why people with one or all the Saptavyasanas are made members of the TTD Board? We had a liquor baron chairman. A crypto chairman, one who got his daughter married off in Church to a known Christian. Two Christian Chief Ministers who we shamelessly allowed to carry the Perumal Vastram to our beloved Bhagawan. I will deal with all these and more in separate articles.

Medieval invaders needed a sword. Modern invaders wielded just a pen.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

One destroyed the structure. The other is the system.

(To be continued in Part-2)

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
3. Material extracted from Pages 196-211 of Sri M.V.R. Sastry’s new book “Devudunnadu Jagrattha”. Price Rs.300/- For buying your copy contact 9347015506- Durga Publications.

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