Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Former TTD chairman questions silence on Varuna Yagam
A man named Bhumana Karunakar Reddy used to be the chairman of a big temple group called TTD.
The TTD takes care of famous temples in the city of Tirupati.
The state has not had enough rain, which is called a drought.
In the past, the TTD held a special prayer ceremony for rain called Varuna Yagam.
The TTD did this whenever there was a drought to help farmers and the public.
This year, other temples held the rain ceremony, but the TTD did not.
Mr. Reddy thinks this is strange and wants to know why.
He is asking the temple leaders why they are staying quiet about it.
Former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy questioned the temple administration's silence over the non-conduct of Varuna Yagam.
He noted that TTD traditionally performed Varuna Yagam during periods of drought and poor rainfall.
Reddy said the ritual was part of TTD's religious and social responsibility towards farmers and the wider public.
Other temple institutions, including the Srisailam temple and Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam in Vijayawada, performed Varuna Yagam this year.
Reddy pointed out that TTD administrations under different governments conducted the ritual during past droughts.
- Who
- Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
- What
- Questioned the TTD's silence over not conducting Varuna Yagam despite drought-like conditions
- When
- This year, when other temples have taken up Varuna Yagam amid drought-like conditions
- Where
- Tirupati, where the TTD is based
- Why
- The TTD traditionally performs Varuna Yagam during droughts as part of its religious and social responsibility towards farmers and the public
- Questioner
- Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, former TTD chairman
- Institution questioned
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
- Ritual in question
- Varuna Yagam
- Context
- Drought-like conditions prevailing in the state
- Temples that performed the ritual this year
- Srisailam temple; Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam, Vijayawada
- TTD's description
- One of the largest Hindu religious institutions
- Historical practice
- Varuna Yagam conducted during droughts under administrations of different governments