Former head priest of Tirupathi temple dies of COVID-19

Former head priest of Tirupathi temple dies of COVID-19

The former head priest of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that manages the famous Lord Venkateswara temple at nearby Tirumala, died due to coronavirus at a COVID care facility here on Monday, a hospital official said.

He developed severe respiratory congestion on Saturday night and was rushed to the hospital where he was reportedly diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on admission. As per SVIMS Director Dr. B. Vengamma, Deekshitulu was diabetic an had kidney-related ailments.

Dekshituluji was a representative for "Peddinti" (one of the four hereditary families 1. Gollapalli, 2.Paidipalli 3.Tirupathamma 4. Peddinti) and was serving as family mirasidar (hereditary priests) at Tirupati Balaji temple for around three decades.

Dekshituluji was connected with swami seva from his childhood and had served at Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple in Tirumala and other Vaikhanasa Agama Sastra following temples.

Srinivasamurthy Dikshutulu, the ex-chief priest who died this morning, was relieved from his duties last year, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam chairperson YV Subba Reddy told NDTV. The 73-year-old priest had served the temple for over three decades.

Mr Reddy had earlier indicated that there was no plan to close the Tiurpati temple - one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the world - to the visitors. The temple's board decided to re-open it on June 11, in line with the centre's "Unlock" plans to handhold the country out of the pandemic in phases.

Last week, Mr Reddy said there is no evidence of pilgrims testing positive for coronavirus. "We have no plan to close Tirumala temple. Senior priests will not be put on duty. Priests and employees have requested separate accommodation," Mr Reddy said, adding a separate facility for making food for the employees will be set up.

The former head priest's two sons, both priests, also reported to have given their samples for COVID test. One of them Narasimha Deekshitulu works at Tirumala temple.

The temple town Tirupati has largely turned into a containment zone and it is suspected the virus may have spread in the neighborhood.

TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy initially ruled out closing the temple but later said the temple body would soon take a decision on whether to stop the darshan or not.

Tirupathi is popular temple particualr among pollitcians of Sri Lanka and number of Head of States have visited this Hindu temple several times as devotees to get blessings.