EDITORIAL

The great poet Vemana says : How can one follow tradition without self-purity. How can one cook without a clean vessel. 

Purity, cleanliness and neatness are woven into the texture of our culture and tradition. We believe in the presence of God where there is cleanliness. Hence, the significance of inner purity for proper observance of custom, according to ancient sages. When we are pure and clean, mind becomes serene and body gets healthy. When an individual is clean, you have a beautiful home, when a house is clean, you have a beautiful village and when a village is clean, the whole country looks beautiful. Our national flag flutters high when the citizens are internally and externally pure. Realising the need for making our environs clean and beautiful, the government has set up third Saturday for clean and green programme. 

Tirumala is the Vaikuntha on earth. It is a highly sacred centre where Sriman Narayana manifested Himself as Lord Venkateswara to uplift the mankind. It is the favourite haunt of the celestial beings. According to sages, even the hills, dales and bubbling brooks and the verdant groves are holy at Tirumala where the presiding Deity Lord Srinivasa bestows His abundant Grace on His devotees.

 Therefore, one can imagine how much pure and clean should be the sacred shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. Is it not a sin to act against our age-old customs and to desecrate temple environment ? What use is there if those who come for Srivari darsan to obtain peace and tranquillity, encountering all hurdles are not able to give up their bad habits even during the brief period they are at Tirumala ? Smoking, consumption of liquor and meat are strictly prohibited on the Sacred Hills Besides one should not indulge in any activity which is against accepted usage and customs. 

If we maintain the sanctity of Tirumala, the crest jewel of India, it will indeed be a matter, to be proud of. It will yield immense benefits to all of us. It is the least service one can render to the Lord of lords

 - Lord Srinivasa. 

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams makes all-out efforts to preserve the sanctity of the Holy Hills and develop its greenery. However, such efforts will not be possible without the unstinted support of all devotees. All devotees should feel and act as if the whole Tirumala Hills were a place of worship because every nook and corner of Tirumala has the touch of divinity. If we consider it with such reverence, the Grace of Lord Venkateswara will flow in abundance. 

Let us all strive towards making Tirumala the most clean and green spiritual centre on earth.