Author: D Sreenath
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: April 4, 2008
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20080403231647
The efforts of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
(TTD) to woo back sections of society drifting away from the Hindu fold seem
to be having an impact, if the response of fisherfolk to a recently- concluded
programme was anything to go by.
The TTD took the initiative to train fishermen
in temple rituals, including chanting of sacred mantras both for daily and
special occasions - hitherto imparted only to the 'Brahmin' community.
The fisherfolk, relatively isolated from the
larger community on account of their location and the nature of their work,
have been easy prey to "religious conversion".
It appears that recent conversions of a good
many people to other faiths jolted the Andhra Pradesh Mathsya Karula Samkshema
Sangham (APMSS) to approach the TTD to help fisherfolk learn more about the
religion and help maintain village shrines.
Speaking to this website's newspaper, APMSS
secretary Tirupathaiah said it would not have been a matter of great concern
had it been a case of individuals embracing a new religion. But it was the
conversion en masse that set alarm bells ringing in a once close-knit community.
Lack of awareness of Hindu traditions had
made people susceptible to conversion, and hence the need to "strengthen
existing temples by conducting the rituals regularly," said Tirupathaiah.
He recounted the memorable experience of being
joined by Brahmin priests, who are undergoing training separately in the same
complex, in the rendition of Nagarsankirthana and in visiting local temples.
Echoing this sentiment was Chintapalli Bhuloka,
a 40-year old fishermen from Khundivanipeta from Srikakulam district, the
northeastern tip of the State. He said the weeklong sojourn in the temple
town to learn rituals was a "golden interlude" in his life.
Another trainee, Odrarevu Krishnavarma from Dindi in Tallarevu mandal of East
Godavari district was overjoyed at his first acquaintance with the Scriptures
and wholeheartedly thanked the TTD for the opportunity.
In all, 42 fishermen from the coastal villages
were trained. Sri Venkateswara Employees Training Academy (SVETA) director
Bhuman, the brains behind the novel programme, said the training involved
simplified forms of temple rituals, including recitations of 'Dhyana slokas',
performance of Harthi and Archana, and offering of Naivedyam.
There were also visits to local temples to
study priests performing poojas and bhajans before retiring for the night.
TTD executive Officer KV Ramanachary said
the fisherfolk were impressive, even surpassing many Brahmins in clarity of
rendition of the slokas.
"They were found to be deeply devoted
and keen on learning more about their faith," he added. He said that
apart from training fisherfolk in conducting rituals, the TTD would also provide
material support for repair and renovation of temples.