Is someone purposely pointing out your statements on Sammakka Saaralamma in a video snippet that has gone viral recently and debated upon on TVs? What is the context?

We belong to the sampradaya which gave and continues to give tribals and women the utmost importance. We will never demean them and are not in the habit of doing so. We respect everyone. In fact, we have had a slogan since 2002 as…


sveeya aaradhana, sarva aadarana
Worship your own, Respect all
Your individual beliefs even if you are a theist or an atheist are for your mental enrichment, worship it. Allow everyone to practise their own methods of self-enrichment. There is no need for others to get converted to your belief or vice-versa.

However, when you are in a society, your individual beliefs take a back seat. Everyone must work together for the benefit of the society, only then the society flourishes.[That is why, every dharma:charya from all corners of the country belonging to all sampradayas and ideologies were called upon and were asked to work together on 4 aspects that can improve the state of the society]

Why would we look down upon grama devathas and hurt the adivasis?! We have set up schools for their upliftment. Under our guidance, Vikasa Tarangini is a service organisation with a wing named Arogya Vikas that focuses on the health of women of all communities including tribals, Muslims, Christians and others.

They have served 12.5 lakh women so far by conducting free awareness camps and providing early cancer detection screenings to them, all for free using VIA tests! When we put in time and effort in safeguarding the health of all women of any community, why would we demean the devathas who inspire them?

Don’t just pick up a line or two without understanding the pre and post parts of the whole to judge a statement.

It would be like someone in a conference on Bhagavatham said ‘Bhagavatham says that there is no God’! Did Bhagavatham say it? Yes, but in what context? Who said it and to who? It was said by Hiranyakasipa to Prahlada.

Most of the grama devathas though illiterate are very knowledgeable women belonging to the villages. Recognising their knowledge, they are raised from being humans and are being worshipped as devathas. The grama devathas have not descended from swarga, heavenly abodes.

The context was about certain others taking advantage of the grama devathas events and using them for an unhealthy purpose in the society. As a well-wisher, we will not hesitate to point out such things and so we may have spoken about it accordingly. That too, not recently, it was about 20 years ago! Is it wrong?

If you are a true well-wisher of the society, clarify the issue, react responsibly, work constructively, and arrive at solutions. Do not sensationalise the issue, by doing so – publicity may be a temporary gain, but it will not last long. Don’t pick up something for publicity and cheap ways of seeking attention!

In the same video where you spoke of some sects of people doing business using Sammakka Saaralamma uthsavams, people debated on why there is a ticket for Statue of Equality, isn’t it business too?

The entry fee for Statue of Equality is for maintenance because it is a large campus. It is not collected for the purpose of darsan or prasad. A nominal entry fee of Rs. 150 is charged to allow the management to control the public and provide the necessary infrastructure so everyone can relish the campus for what it’s intended. For such a large set up, charges would be a lot more anywhere else, but it is made viable for everyone to . We already clarified that we would never demean the grama devathas and adivasis. Look into the context before you state anything.

How do you define yourself? Are you a Priest, Saint or are you now interested in Politics? You seem to be moving along with political leaders much. You condemned non vegetarians’ behaviour etc.

We have no interest in politics. The thought has never crossed our mind, it never will. Everyone is equal for us. Don’t try to pull out something that doesn’t exist. As journalists, you must investigate correctly and present / question but not state something without a base. We don’t have a bank account on my name. Your question itself has no base!

We are a biksha sannya:si [sannya:si = sath (God) + nya:samu (submits), who submits everything in service of God], a sa:dhu [one who thinks and acts with good heart for everyone].

On the non-vegetarian topic, when someone is focused on a certain goal – there will be certain rules and processes to follow. For example: One who aims to become a doctor gives up studying other subjects after 10th and picks up only certain subjects. After 12th, he gives up a few more and focuses on certain subjects. Post degree, he focuses further on only one or two areas and gives up the rest. He is specialising in PG. If he desires, he will have to follow this. We spoke about non-vegetarian and how it can be a hindrance for those who want to take up the sampradaya deeksha, not for the general public who do not have interest in it. We don’t comment on those who do not understand this, but we object to the media if they don’t act responsibly in conveying the accuracy of the content presented before the public. Your duty is to provide accurate information, not distortion and not sensationalism.

Is there a gap between You and the Telangana government?

We don’t have any gaps with anyone. If someone purposely wishes and secures a gap, we can’t do anything. Because we always have the goal to do good activities without cheating anyone. When we have such a clear goal, we are speaking with courage on any of these issues. Otherwise, it will require hiding behind someone or another to avoid and talk in private. From the time in 1986 when we spoke about the Challa Kondaiah Commission, we always feel responsible to point out anything that isn’t right.

We are like the ‘eyes’ of society. We watch for what might hurt your ‘leg’ and advise accordingly. If you don’t listen, step on it and start bleeding on the leg, the ‘eyes’ shed tears. The ‘eyes’ warn ahead but if their instruction is not followed, it is the ‘eyes’ that well up with tears. We need to do this duty of ours. Don’t ask us if everyone wearing saffron are doing this duty. You can check and reveal the truths.

Yadadri temple inauguration, are you planning to come? Is there an invite?

If asked, we will advise. If invited, we will go. Otherwise, we will watch [the glory of Lord] and enjoy.

We don’t tag ourselves to anything in specific. If someone seeks advice, we give it. If someone wants us to own any responsibility in a good activity, we take it up and will do justice 100.01%. We don’t look for any ownership in any event.

Do you think this issue will stop/cease here?

Depends on you {media – everyone smiles}. If you stop it, it will stop…

It’s so nice to see you all. Everyone have prasadam in the temple, Jai Srimannarayana!