Known for his staunch belief in ancient Hindu customs, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is all set to appease Lord Vishnu in a big way. He is preparing for yet another major Vedic ceremony, this time to apparently ward off ‘evil forces causing hurdles’ in implementing government programmes.
Preparations are on for KCR performing the Sudarshana Yagam in his assembly constituency in Medak district next month. The detailed religious ritual will be held at Gajwel on August 7 to invoke Sudarshana, the mythological disc associated with Lord Vishnu in decimating evil forces.
The 62-year-old CM will perform the Yagam along with the family. Ahead of its start at Gajwel town, he will formally inaugurate the first phase of his government’s Mission Bhagiratha that aims to provide drinking water to every household, according to Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, who is a nephew of KCR.
Mission Bhagiratha, which was originally called Telangana Water Grid project, was proposed two years ago. Since then, it has been considered a pet project of KCR. In fact, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader has gone on to openly declare that next assembly elections in the state would not see him asking for votes if the project is not completed within three years.
The Rs 40,000-crore mission has been facing several hurdles right from the beginning due to monetary constraints. Official sources said the government could so far get into financial tie-ups for only Rs 15,000 crore with institutions like Hudco and Nabard. “Since the government has taken up the project as a matter of prestige, it is spending its own budgetary allocations for the mission’s first phase,” a source said.
{{/usCountry}}The Rs 40,000-crore mission has been facing several hurdles right from the beginning due to monetary constraints. Official sources said the government could so far get into financial tie-ups for only Rs 15,000 crore with institutions like Hudco and Nabard. “Since the government has taken up the project as a matter of prestige, it is spending its own budgetary allocations for the mission’s first phase,” a source said.
{{/usCountry}}While it was expected to be completed state-wide in another two years, the project saw partial fruition only in a few blocks in Gajwel. “There are obstacles. It is precisely to steer clear of them the CM is seeking divine intervention,” another source said.
Last year-end, KCR caught the attention of the entire country by performing a five-day Ayutha Maha Chandi Yagam. The venue for the December 23-27 event was his farmhouse in Erravelli--also in Medak district of central Telangana. Over 2,500 priests participated in the yagam performed in 101 homa kundams (bricks-raised pyres) at the 40-acre yagasala in the presence of seers like the Sankaracharyas and spiritual gurus like Sri Sri Ravishankar besides a large number of VIPs, including politicians.
Rama Sastry, who was one of the priests at that Chandi Yagam, said any such ritual was meant for the welfare of the person and his family who perform the ritual. “It also benefits the entire country,” he told HT. “The yagam, if performed with devotion and dedication, will benefit the people by bestowing the country with good rains, wealth, wealth and other positive benefits.”
TRS sources said KCR’s head had improved after the 2015 Chandi Yagam, “The party had won the prestigious Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections and byelections in Palair in Khammam,” a TRS leader pointed out. “The Sudarshana Yagam will definitely help KCR overcome the obstacles in the accomplishment of his tasks.”
Even before coming to power, KCR has performed yagams. They include Chandi Yagam and Maha Mruthyunjaya Homam at Telangana Bhavan, the headquarters of the TRS.
KCR believes such rituals did help him in realising the dream of achieving a separate state for Telangana. He also has a strong faith in Vasthu and astrology. In fact, after coming to power, the CM made quite a few changes to his office and residence in tune with his stars. Even during the ongoing Haritha Haram programme (tree plantation drive), his government has campaigned for planting of trees by people to suit their zodiac signs and stars.