Tag: Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Trust

The TTD established a dairy farm called ‘Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala’ in Tirupati as part of Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Trust in the year 1956 and formed the trust in 2002 to meet its needs.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) - Schemes and Trusts

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) – Schemes and Trusts

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Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) – Schemes and Trusts

Philanthropy is one of the major sources of revenue that drives the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in its endeavor to benefit society. More than the money involved, it is the offerings made by the devotees, right from a normal person to a multi-millionaire, in fulfillment of their vow that matters.

Any devotee can simply drop his offerings into the ‘Srivari Hundi’. Besides, they can also contribute a significant amount to the scores of schemes and trusts run by the TTD as part of its social responsibility. By contributing to the schemes, every devotee can become a partner with the TTD’s objectives to reach out to society.

Sri Venkateswara Anna Prasadam Trust

Going by the adage ‘Manava Sevaye Madhava Seva’ (service to humanity is service to the Lord), the TTD launched Sri Venkateswara Anna Prasadam Trust, which is a major source today in providing meals to the tens of thousands of devotees visiting Tirumala every day.

Every morsel of food provided to the common public is viewed as ‘Srivari Prasadam’ and hence is accepted with utmost devotion.

Tarigonda Vengamamba Annadhanam Annaprasada Building - Tirumala Tirupati Yatra

One-Day Donation Scheme

T.T.D. has introduced a scheme towards a one-day contribution of the donation amount for serving Annaprasadam at Tirumala. The devotees can contribute towards the entire one-day Annaprasadam or breakfast, lunch, or dinner the name of the donor will be displayed at MTVAC, and the donor is permitted to serve the Annaprasadam on any chosen date.

The contributions will be treated as corpus donations and uniform privileges will apply to the donors like darshan, accommodation, etc.

Sri Venkateswara Pranadana Trust

The TTD has several hospitals under its umbrella, which provide free medical treatment and even conduct surgeries for the deserving poor. Sri Venkateswara Pranadana Trust was formed with the noble aim of providing free medication to poor patients afflicted with life-threatening diseases related to heart, kidney, brain, etc.

Beneficiaries are identified transparently by a team of medical experts and the treatment or surgery is done free of cost.

With medical care becoming increasingly unaffordable, this trust has proved to be a savior for many.

click here to know more about donations towards Paranadana Trust

Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Trust

This trust is yet another forum that plays a very important role in the protection of cows, which is of paramount importance in Hindu Dharma. The TTD established a dairy farm called ‘Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala’ in Tirupati in the year 1956 and formed the trust in 2002 to meet its needs.

Panchgavyas - TTD Namami Govinda

Devotees can also help in the protection and propagation of endangered varieties of native cows such as Gir, Sahiwal, Kankrej, Ongole, and Punganur, as TTD management has taken up the massive responsibility with the contribution received by this trust.

Click here for more details

Sri Venkateswara Vidyadana Trust

This trust was formed in the year 2008 to sanction scholarships to 1000 meritorious students living below the poverty line. Students studying in Zilla Parishat, municipal corporation, private aided, and even the schools run by the TTD management are eligible to get the scholarships.

By providing education to a single student, the TTD aims to better the lives of an entire generation.

Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled (BIRRD)

Physical disability is one major impediment that ruins one’s life. To come to the rescue of such disabled persons, the TTD formed the Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled (BIRRD) Trust to treat patients suffering from polio mellitus, cerebral palsy, congenital anomalies, spinal injuries, and other orthopedic disorders.

BIRRD

With state-of-the-art equipment and modern operation theatres, the BIRRD hospital is comparable to the best orthopedic super-specialty hospitals in Asia. The treatment is provided free of cost at this hospital to the deserving persons.

Sri Venkateswara Veda Parirakshana Trust

Vedas are at the root of Hindu Dharma. The Sanatana Hindu Dharma is identified through the Vedic tradition. To preserve the ancient Vedas, Sri Venkateswara Veda Parirakshana Trust was formed in the year 2007. With this, the TTD runs Veda Patasalas and provides financial emoluments to aged Vedic scholars to let them share their rich knowledge with the younger generation.

Donating to this trust is synonymous with protecting the ancient Vedic civilization. As repair, renovation, and revival of ancient temples is the key to protecting the Hindu Dharma, Sri Venkateswara Heritage Preservation Trust was introduced in 2006 to protect dilapidated temples and other heritage structures. Donations to this trust will directly help in protecting our ancient temple tradition.

Sri Venkateswara Sarvasreyas Trust

The TTD established Sri Venkateswara Bala Mandir in the year 1943 to take care of orphaned children. It was later renamed as Sri Venkateswara Sarvasreyas Trust, which provides shelter to boys and girls who have no parents or those with parents who are not able to bring them up due to financial constraints.

Such children are admitted to this school and free education is provided to make them bright and responsible citizens.

Sri Venkateswara Alaya Nirmanam (SRIVANI) Trust

Sri Venkateswara Alaya Nirmanam (SRIVANI) Trust has been formed in recent years to construct, maintain, manage, and administer Sri Venkateswara temples and their properties. Various religious rituals pertaining to the temples will also be performed with the funds donated to the trust.

Click here for more details.

Sri Balaji Arogya Varaprasadini Scheme

It was formed in the year 2007 in Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), the TTD’s super specialty hospital. The funds received by this trust are used to conduct medical research and provide medical treatment to deserving patients.

How to Make Donation

For all the above trusts, devotees can issue a cheque or draw a demand draft in favor of ‘The Executive Officer, TTD, Tirupati’ and send it to the address ‘The Chief Accounts Officer, Centralised Donor Management Cell, TTD administrative building, Kapila Theertham Road, Tirupati – 517 501’.

All donations are exempt under Sec 80(G) of the Income Tax Act.

Privileges to Donors

The TTD also provides certain privileges to the donors contributing to the above schemes.

1 to 5 Lakh

According to the information provided by the TTD, philanthropists donating any amount between Rs.1 lakh and Rs.5 lakh will be allowed for Darshan through ‘Supatham’ for one day in a year (subject to availability) for their family of five persons. They will also get free accommodation for five persons or VIP accommodation on a payment basis once a year.

Six small Laddus will be provided to them during their visit for Darshan, apart from one Dupatta, a blouse piece as ‘Bahumanam’. These privileges will be extended during the lifetime of the donor in case of individuals or for 20 years, in case of firms, companies, and joint donors.

5 to 10 Lakh

Those who donate an amount between Rs.5 lakh and Rs.10 lakh will get Darshan through ‘Supatham’ for three days in a year (subject to availability) for five members of their family. Free accommodation will be provided for three days or VIP accommodation on a payment basis.

Ten small Laddus are provided during two visits to the temple, at the rate of five each time, apart from Dupatta, blouse piece as ‘Bahumanam’. A silver coin weighing 50 grams will be given once in their lifetime.

10 Lakh to 1 Crore

Donors donating an amount between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore will be provided break darshan for three days in a year (subject to availability) for their family of five persons. They will be provided accommodation three times a year in any room with a tariff value of Rs.500. A gold dollar weighing 5 grams and a silver coin weighing 50 grams will be given once in their lifetime.

1 Crore and Above

Those donating Rs.1 crore and above will get VIP break Darshan for three days a year free of cost for their family of five persons. This apart, the donor’s family will also be provided Suprabhatha Seva for any three days other than the VIP break day. They will get accommodation in a VIP suite having a tariff value of Rs.2500 for three days a year.

‘Veda Asirvachanam’ will be performed free of cost at Ranganayakula Mandapam by Vedic Pundits on any day chosen by the devotee once a year. Ten big Laddus will be provided to them every year, at the rate of five per visit for two times.

They will also get one gold dollar weighing 5 grams and a 50-gram silver coin once in their lifetime.

Devotees donating Rs.10000 to SRIVANI Trust will get the privilege of VIP break darshan. One VIP break darshan ticket is given for every donation of Rs.10000, subject to a ceiling of nine persons. Donors will have to redeem the privilege by paying Rs.500 per ticket.

In all the above cases, room is not provided to a single person arriving at Tirumala.

Sri Venkateswara Aapanna Hrudaya Scheme

Donors can sponsor the cost of a child’s heart surgery by donating Rs.1 lakh to the hospital under the Sri Venkateswara Aapanna Hrudaya Scheme for children treated at Sri Padmavati CHildren Heart Centre, Tirupati. Donors can be individuals, corporate firms, or trusts.

Donors will get a one-time break darshan for a family of five persons (subject to availability). For firms and trusts, five persons will be allowed for Break darshan on payment of Break darshan charges.

Devotees can donate to any of the above trusts/schemes to directly contribute to the TTD’s activities to make the world a better place to live in.

Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go Pradakshina Mandiram

Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go Pradakshina Mandiram

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Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go Pradakshina Mandiram

Cow worship is always considered a sacred activity for Hindus. It is revered as a symbol of prosperity as Goddess Maha Lakshmi is believed to live in the animal, thus bestowing health and wealth to Her devotees.

Since time immemorial, all the dynasties that were part of the Bharata Varsha patronized cattle worship and even promoted cow-based products not only to ensure the citizens’ health but also to distribute wealth among the masses.

A quick look at our hoary mythology and ancient history reveals that the prosperity of a kingdom used to be measured by its cattle wealth. The cow was hence considered not only as the sole breadwinner in many households but also as the living god of a village.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has been a champion in preserving, propagating, and promoting native cows (Go-Matha) at its Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala and mobilizing donations through its Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Trust.

Though the TTD is a pioneer in cow protection and propagation activities, it has taken steps to make cow worship a regular part of its series of activities.

Google Maps’s Location.

Alipiri, the foot of Tirumala hills, has a new landmark for cow worship, which is called ‘Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go Pradakshina Mandiram’. The idea behind the TTD coming up with the concept is to let the pilgrims do ‘Pradakshana’ to seven ‘Desi’ cows and calves.

The magical number ‘seven’ here is synonymous with the seven hills of Tirumala and is considered a good omen for people to start their holy trek to the hill shrine after praying to the cows arranged in a pattern.

There will be 25 to 30 at any point of time on the premises, from which seven cows will be made to stand at the altar at the center. Devotees walking in will perambulate around the cows as a form of worship. This act, done with a noble heart and with due sincerity, is believed to remove all sins committed in previous births.

A view of Sri Venugopala Swamy at Alipiri Sri Venkateswara Go Pradakshina Mandiram
A view of Sri Venugopala Swamy at Alipiri Sri Venkateswara Go Pradakshina Mandiram

Feed donations to be made in Go-Mandiram

Grain/Cereals  Planetary positions
Wheat and jaggery  Suryagraha Shanti
Paddy  Chandragraha Shanti
Red gram and jaggery  Kujagraha Shanti
Black gram and jaggery  Rahugraha Shanti
Chickpea  Gurugraha Shanti
Sesame seeds  Sanigraha Shanti
Green gram  Budhagraha Shanti
Horse gram  Kethugraha Shanti
Cowpea  Sukragraha Shanti

4 Acre Campus

The four-acre campus is strategically located close to the footpath and also the toll gate on the second ghat road leading to Tirumala hills. This facilitates both the trekking public as well as the motorists using the ghat road to make a stopover at Alipiri, pray to the cows, and then embark on their holy pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Venkateswara.

The complex also has a temple with the deity of Sri Venugopala Swamy, where Puja will be offered every day as prescribed in the religious doctrines. It may be recalled that Lord Sri Krishna, as a cowherd, always holds cow close to his heart and can be mostly seen in the company of cattle, which sway to the tune of the mellifluous music emanating from his flute.

Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go-Pradakshina Mandiram
Sapthagopradakshana Shala

Go-Thulabaram

Another major attraction here is a ‘Go Thulabaram’, which is similar to the one used by pilgrims to weigh products against their weight, to be donated as part of the fulfillment of their vow. The difference in this case is that the products donated to the temple are weighed against the weight of a cow.

A cow is made to stand on one side of the ‘Thulabaram’ and consumable products like rice, jaggery, haystack, nuts and cereals, sugarcane, groundnut husk, etc. are added in gunny bags on the other side, till both sides strike a balance. The philanthropist then donates the same to the TTD, which in turn uses it to feed the cattle not only at the ‘Go Mandiram’, but also at the various Goshalas under its management.

To hold the weight of a cow as well as the products, the ‘Thulabaram’ is specially ordered from a firm in Madhya Pradesh, which made it with cast iron with a heavy gauge. Apart from the temple and a cattle shed to house thirty cows, there is a vast grazing field, where the cattle will be let out.

Animals moving around and grazing in the pasture will naturally gain strength and immunity, compared to the ones that are fed manually. This is the idea behind developing a grazing field with fodder crops.

Go-Pradakshina Seva

Devotees can have Go-pradakshinam at this Go-Mandiram before offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.

Go-Vignana Kendram

Also abutting the ‘Go Mandiram’ is a massive building ‘Go Vignana Kendram’ housing a meditation hall and a photo gallery depicting TTD’s cow-related activities. After praying to the cows, people intending to sustain the devotional fervor for a few more minutes can sit down for meditation and chant the holy names of the Lord.

There is also a children’s play area, where the kids will be allowed to roam around when the elders pray. It will also be an occasion for the children to engage in fruitful time with the cows and attain a spiritual and compassionate bent of mind. The building also has a gallery to display the TTD’s programs on cow protection, apart from the donation schemes available to the public.

This will not only help more benefactors join the cause of cow protection but also provide a window to let the TTD’s activities on this front spread far and wide. As the area is surrounded by forest, where the movement of carnivorous animals cannot be ruled out, the TTD management intends to provide electric fencing to ensure the safety of the cows. Deployment of guards with light arms is also under contemplation to scare away such wild animals from the vicinity.

Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go-Pradakshina Mandiram

Devotees can offer various grains of their choice to the cows and may donate the grains and cereals that suit the planetary positions and movement.

For example,

  • wheat and jaggery are known to please the Sun God, which the devout can donate to Suryagraha Shanti.
  • Similarly, paddy is suited for Chandragraha Shanti,
  • red gram and jaggery for Kujagraha Shanti,
  • black gram and jaggery for Rahugraha Shanti,
  • chickpea for Gurugraha Shanti,
  • Sesame seeds for Sanigraha Shanti,
  • Green gram for Budhagraha Shanti,
  • horse gram for Kethugraha Shanti and
  • cowpea is donated for Sukragraha Shanti.

Devotees can donate the above grains according to the weights of the various cows mentioned at the ‘Go Thulabharam’, or pay the equivalent in cash drawn as a demand draft. T.T.D. took up the noble cause of popularizing the concept of cow worship and propagating the importance of ‘Go Matha’ in a great way.