Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is gearing up a full-fledged debate with Hanumadh Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust of Kishkindha in Karnataka to resolve the controversy over the birth place of Lord Hanuman.
The debate between the two sides will be organised on Thursday at Tirupati Sanskrit Vidya Peetham. While Swamy Govindananda Saraswati will participate in the debate on behalf of Kishkindha trust, Expert committee convenor and others will argue on behalf of the TTD.
On the occasion of Ugadi festival on April 13, the TTD came out with a report claiming that Anjanadri in Tirumala is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.
The claim was based on a report submitted by an eight-member expert committee headed by Prof Sannidhanam Sudarshana Sharma, vice-chancellor of Sri Venkateshwara Vedic University, constituted in December 2020.
The committee which met several times and conducted a thorough research based on various evidences gathered from ancient scriptures, submitted its report to TTD K S Jawahar Reddy.
Strongly disputing the TTD’s claims, Sri Hanumad Janma Bhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust of Karnataka dashed off a six-page strongly worded letter to the TTD in the first week of May.
In his letter, the founding trustee of the Hanumad Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust said the committee report was misleading and cheating the devotees.
Describing the TTD’s claim as “daiva droham” (betrayal of the god), the Swamy said the Karnataka trust had all the evidences to prove that Lord Hanuman was born on Kishkindha hills at Pampa Kshetra of Koppal district.
He quoted from Valmiki Ramayana and other scriptures to buttress his claim.
“We are ready for any debate on the subject. We give seven days’ time to the TTD to give reply to this letter. Otherwise, we shall declare the TTD and its expert team as offenders,” the Swamy said.
The TTD shot back at the Kishkindha trust and asked the latter to come for an open debate along with all evidences.