Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages Lord Balaji temple in Tirupati, has stirred a controversy after its monthly magazine Saptagiri published a story which said that Lord Rama had only one son. The story which was written by a class IX student from Chittor, said that Lava was the only son of Lord Rama and Sita, while Kusha was just a creation of Sage Valmiki in the Ramayana. Objecting sharply to it, the BJP staged a protest against TTD and demanded strict action against magazine’s editor.
Soon after the controversy erupted, the TTD jumped into damaged control and immediately removed the story from its website and stopped sales of the magazine. Its vigilance wing has questioned the editor and the sub-editor of the magazine as well. TTD chairman also assured that strict action would be taken against the responsible persons, irrespective of their positions.
Leading protest against the religious body, a BJP leader who is also a former TTD member, said: “On what basis the TTD published this story? Why did not they take Valmiki’s Ramayana as source? I demand removal of the magazine’s editor Radha Ramana. The organisation is meant to protect Hindu dharma. Why does it repeat these things again and again? The sentiments of devotees are hurt.”
Several Hindu outfits and devotees have registered their sharp objection to this story and questioned the TTD’s notions which is run by funds donated by Hindus. Devotee and temple protector B.K.S.R. Ayyangar, told The Daily Guardian, “Ramayana is not a story, a fable or a creation. It happened really on this Earth. It is a holy thing. How can TTD publish such stories in its official magazine? The Saptagiri magazine used to carry high standards but now the standards have fallen. Today, they have published a story on the Ramayana with distorted facts, tomorrow it may be another thing. So, a strict action is necessary.”