Sunday, June 5, 2011

Tirumala Temple - Historical Background - Update

I received quite a few emails and tweets asking for the source related to usage of revenues from temple during English and Nawab of Arcot period.  I mentioned one source in my previous blog. Further investigation confirms the same. The following are the exact text from the book, "History of Tirupati" by T.K.T. Virraraghava Charya published by TTD re-print 2003.

"The Diary and Consultation Book and the Country correspondence after 1758 do not yet appear to have been printed by the Government yet. A reliable history relating to the further period cannot therefore be written until they are available. It is however seen from a report made by Pigot to the English at (F.S.G.) dated April 8, 1762 that after the surrender of Vellore by the French, the English army marched to the Nellore country. Nazibullahkhan, Kallidar of Nellore was attacked and he took refuge with Poligar of Udayagiri, who out of fear delivered him up. Bangaru Yachama Naik, Poligar of Vengatagiri compromised for 2.5 Lakhs rupees; Damarla Venkatapati Naik, Poligar of Kalahasti made peace for 1.5 Lakhs and Boomarazu settled in a few days. Tirupati was thus rendered safe and secure for the English. It continued to be the sure and unfailing source of income for them even till September, 1800, as we have seen from Lord Clive's letter to the Nawab of Arcot in connection with the arrangements to be made for the pilgrimage of Raja Raghottama Rao to Tirupati although the temple along with pergana of Tirupati was nominally the property of the Nawab of Arcot. The revenues stood assigned to the English."

1 comment:

  1. Both were looters of India. British and Muslims invaded India and looted temple wealth and also destroyed temples. It hardly matters who sent the treasure to whom. All these things happened because lack of unity among Hindus,which is true even today. Pity is our politicians are worse than both.

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