EX-TTD CHIEF PRIEST DIES OF COVID-19

One of the former chief priests of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Peddinti Srinivasa Murthy Dikshitulu (75), who had tested positive for the Coronavirus and was admitted to the Covid-19 centre attached to the SVIMS Hospital in Tirupati, breathed his last on Monday morning.

Confirming the demise to Deccan Chronicle, SVIMS director-cum-Vice Chancellor Dr B. Vengamma said the former chief priest had been admitted on Saturday night after diagnosing positive for the virus. “He had co-morbidities like diabetes and kidneyrelated ailments. His condition was stable till Sunday night but deteriorated due to severe respiratory congestion, for which he was put on ventilator. Though doctors tried their best, he passed away on Monday morning,” the SVIMS director said.

According to the chief priest of the Tirumala temple Venugopala Deekshithulu, there are four Mirasi (hereditary) families serving temples under the fold of TTD, including Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala. They are Paidipally family, Gollapalli family, Peddinti family and Tirupatamma family.

“Srinivasa Murthy Dikshitulu belongs to Archakam Peddinti family. He had rendered kainkaryams for over 55 years at three prominent temples including Lord Venkateswara and Varahaswamy temples at Tirumala and Govindaraja Swamy temple at Tirupati,” the chief priest told DC.

The deceased chief priest is survived by four daughters and two sons. While his elder son works at the Govindaraja Swamy temple, his younger son is working for the Tirumala temple. Srinivasa Murthy Dikshitulu also established a temple of Vaikhanasa Maha Muni with his own funds at the R.S. Mada street in Tirupati, where he installed a statue of Lord Venkateshwara and rendered services to it. It may be recalled that he was among the four priests from Mirasi families forcibly retired from priesthood at Tirumala temple by the TTD Trust Board during the Telugu Desam regime.