Vijayawada: Seers and pontiffs called on Hindus to rise against government control over temples, demanding autonomy for Hindu places of worship in Andhra Pradesh. The Haindava Sankharavam event, organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) with the slogan ‘Mana Deeksha, Divalaya Raksha’, was held at Kesarapalli in Gannavaram. The meeting, attended by tens of thousands, echoed with chants of ‘Jai Shriram’.Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Theertha Kshetra Trust Treasurer, Swami Govind Dev Gir Ji Maharaj, praised the VHP for its initiative to safeguard Sanatana Dharma in Andhra Pradesh. He stressed the importance of preserving Hinduism for the welfare of the nation and the world. Citing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a model of righteousness, Govind Dev urged Hindus to follow Shivaji’s example of prioritising collective well-being.Highlighting the spiritual and cultural significance of temples, Govind Dev explained that Hindu temples are not mere places of worship but sacred abodes of divine culture. He pointed to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir as a successful example of temple autonomy, arguing that freeing temples from government control in Andhra Pradesh would prevent the misuse of funds and lands while strengthening Hindu traditions.VHP International Working President Alok Kumar urged the government to transfer temple administration to local trusts, condemning the misuse of temple revenues for non-religious purposes. He criticised the state’s collection of five percent of temple income for the common good fund, calling it unjust.Other attendees included VHP Central Joint Secretary Koteswara Sharma, former chief secretary LV Subramanyam, Guru Chinna Jeeyar Swamy, and seers from across the country.
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