TTD Balamandir alumnus donates Rs one crore to TTD

Newswand: Probably in an incident, first of its kind, an alumnus of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s SV Balamandir Poosala Viswanath has donated Rs one crore to TTD for use in any of the trusts being run by Devasthanam.

Viswanath’s father Anjaneyulu handing over cheque to EO Jawahar Reddy

Viswanath who is in a top position in Facebook has donated the amount for taking up charitable activities through TTD’s Trusts. His family members have handed over the cheque of Rs one crore to TTD executive office Dr KS Jawahar Reddy on September 17.  

According to the official press release of TTD, Poosala Viswanath studied in the TTD-run school of SV Balamandir at Tirupati from 1976 to 1981. Later he pursued his high school education in SV High School from 1981 to 1985 and also studied in SV Junior College from 1985 to 1987.

 After completing intermediate, he got admission in IIT and became the first IITian who had school education in TTD school. After completing computer science from 1987 to 1991 in IIT Chennai he did his PhD in Wisconsin, USA between 1992 and 1995. Now, he is holding a coveted post in Facebook at the USA.

 Poosala Anjaneyulu, father of Sri Viswanath who has retired as deputy executive officer in TTD and Suresh Poosala, his elder brother are instrumental in guiding him in building his career.

The family of Poosala Anjaneyulu met EO Dr KS Jawahar Reddy in his chambers in TTD Administrative Building on September 17. On behalf of Poosala Viswanath and his spouse Dharani, they handed over a cheque for Rs One Crore to EO for utilizing it in any of the Trusts run by TTD.

 TTD EO appreciated the thanksgiving gesture of Viswanath and his family. He said the success story of Viswanath will be true inspirations to many students who are pursuing education in TTD run educational institutions.

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Brahmotsavams to be held in Ekantam this year also

Newswand: The Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara Swami would be held in Ekantam in this year also like in last year due to Covid restrictions.

Brahmotsavam (file photo)

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam chairman YV Subba Reddy announced that the annual Srivari Brahmotsavams this year too will be held in Ekantam keeping in view the health safety of devotees and TTD employees.

Speaking to reporters at Annamaiah Bhavan on September 17 the chairman said the decision was in adherence to new Covid guidelines issued by the Central and State Governments in view of possibility of third wave of Covid likely to happen in October.

He said only 15,000 to 20,000 devotees are being provided Srivari Darshan daily in consonance with Covid regulations like sanitisation, having mask, and maintaining social distancing. He said curbs in Darshan would continue for some more time and temple activities will be restricted till normalcy is restored.

The chairman said due to technical snags the online issue of SSD tokens is being delayed and soon after rectifying the problem, the SSD tokens will soon be issued in online.

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Devotee donates Rs 4.20 crores to SVBC Trust

Newswand: Ramakrishna, resident of Vijayawada and representative of Boston based devotee Ravi Ika, has on September 16 morning donated Rs 4.20 crore to the SVBC Trust.

Ramakrishna handing over cheque to addittional EO AV Dharma Reddy

He handed over the cheque for the same towards the donation amount to TTD additional EO and SVBC MD AV Dharma Reddy at the Ranganayakula Mandapam in Srivari temple after darshan.

Speaking on the occasion the TTD additional EO said that Ravi Ika has so far donated over Rs 40 crores to various trusts of TTD.

He said Ravi has given first instalment of Rs 4.20 crore for the SVBC modernisation program, to buy advanced cameras and other technical equipment costing Rs 7 crore in all.

He said with these donations the SVBC will be fully equipped with state of the art cameras and the latest HD technical equipment to provide life-like images of all Vahana Sevas and other rituals in Tirumala.

SVBC CEO Suresh Kumar was also present.

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Go Puja and Veda Asirvachanam in all TTD temples

Newswand: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam executive officer Dr KS Jawahar Reddy has directed officials to perform Go Puja and Veda Ashirvachanam to devotees in all TTD local temples.

TTD EO KS Jawahar Reddy seen reviewing with the officials

Addressing a review meeting with DyEOs of all temples and senior officials on September 15 evening at Sri Padmavati Rest House in Tirupati, the EO said, special sevas should be launched at all temples taken over by TTD.

He wanted officials to launch Sri Kalahasti and Varanasi type sevas at Kapilathirtham temple also and frame rules and regulations for conducting utsavas in temples.

He said in consultation with Tourism department package buses shall be organised for the benefit of devotees coming from far off places.

Later he directed the officials to issue notifications for utilising the unused land assets of such temples and lease surplus lands to farmers to grow organic crops.

The TTD EO has also directed the officials to organise devotee friendly sign boards, publicise about history, significance of temples through promos on SVBC and small booklets besides update all the information relating to these temples on TTD website.

TTD officials made a power point presentation on devotee footfall in each temple, Sevas and ongoing engineering works done in all sub temples.

JEO Sada Bhargavi, FA and CAO Balaji, CE Nageswara Rao, DyEO (general) Ramana Prasad, estate officer Mallikarjun, and DyEOs of other temples Shanti, Parvati, Kasturi Bai have participated.

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Vande Hei to become first American to stay for longest period in space station

Newswand: Vande Hei would hold the record of first American to spend longest time in spaceflight as he would stay in the International Space Station till March, 2022. He would be in the spaceflight for 353 days.  

Vandei Hei in International Space Station. Photo credi/NASA

However, Russian Valeri Polyakov holds the world record of longest spaceflight stay as he spent 878 days in the spaceflight in two missions. He holds the record of 437 days single stay in the spaceflight.

As far as America is concerned Vande Hei would become the first American to stay for longest period in the space station. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has extended the stay of Vande Hei and his colleague in the space station, Pyotr Dubrov, up to March 2022.

According to the NASA’s communication, with the plans for Russian spaceflight participants to visit the space station as part of the Soyuz MS-19 crew in October 2021, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov will remain aboard the station until March 2022. Upon return to Earth, Vande Hei will hold the record for longest single spaceflight for an American.

A potential benefit to this extension is NASA gaining deeper insight into how the human body adapts to life in microgravity for longer periods of time. This research helps prepare for Artemis missions to the Moon and eventually long-duration missions to Mars, as well as provides critical opportunities for additional research to be conducted aboard the station that can benefit life on Earth.

Rodents living on the station will soon be studied to understand how microgravity affects a variety of biological systems and processes. NASA Flight Engineers Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough began their day on September 14 training for the Rodent Research-1 Demonstration (RR-D1) experiment that will take place inside the Kibo laboratory module.

Afterward, Commander Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency joined Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) and took their turn studying for the upcoming RR-D1 study. The rodents will live in JAXA’s Mouse Habitat Unit and the experiment will be housed inside Kibo’s Life Science Glovebox. The biology study specifically aims to understand how weightlessness impacts normal skin function and wound healing.

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TTD to continue construction of temples in SC, ST and Fishermen colonies

Newswand: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam would continue construction of temples in SC, ST and Fishermen colonies as part of its propagation of Hindu Sanathana Dharma programme.

TTD executive officer Dr KS Jawahar Reddy has stated this at a review meeting on the activities of Srivani Trust on September 13.

Speaking in the review meeting the TTD EO directed engineering and HDPP officials to chalk out an action plan to take up temple construction activities as part of the second phase of Srivani Trust activities.

He said TTD was diligently carrying out its dharmic campaign with its Gudiko- Gomata and Ooriko-Gudi (a cow for temple and a temple for village) program.

He directed officials to chalk out temple building plan in four phases and to frame necessary guidelines with a committee comprising of district collectors and endowment officials of both Telugu states.

He urged officials to prepare lists in consultation with district collectors for temple construction. TTD is already giving out stone idols, Panchaloha idols, Mike sets etc. to several temples as part of dharmic propagation.

Additional EO AV Dharma Reddy, JEO Sada Bhargavi, CVSO Gopinath Jatti, CE Nageswara Rao, FA& CAO Balaji, Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad Programme officer Vijaya Saradhi and others were present.

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TTD Agarbattis sale begin

Newswand: Sale of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Agarbattis has begun in Tirumala on September 13 after the manufacturing unit has been inaugurated at the SV Go Samrakshanashala.

The unique unit was inaugurated by the TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy along with the TTD EO Dr KS Jawahar Reddy while Tirupati MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, Sulurpeta MLA Sanjeevaiah participated in the landmark event.

Thereafter they signed a pact with YSR Horticultural University for providing dry flower technology to TTD.

Agarbattis in seven brands

Speaking on the occasion the TTD chairman said the Agarbattis are being made from used flower garlands of all TTD temples and would be available to devotees from September 13 onwards at Tirumala. “The Bangalore based M/s Darshan international Company had set up machinery at its own cost and manufacturing Agarbattis at free of cost as a service to Sri Venkateswara,” he added.

He said in all, 10 machines will produce 3.5 lakh agarbattis daily in seven brands which would be sold at Tirumala laddu counters and Tirupati. The chairman also reaffirmed that the flowers used in the Srivari temple are not used in making these Agarbattis.

The TTD has also entered into Memorandum of Understanding with YSR Horticultural University for dry flower technology and it would be used to make portraits of Swami and Ammavaru with the flowers used in the TTD temples. As part of the understanding, women are trained at the Citrus Research Station of the University at Tirupati and TTD has granted Rs 83 lakhs towards equipment and training.

The chairman said with this technology the TTD would manufacture photos, calendars, key chains, paperweights, etc. which would be available soon for sale to devotees.

Sale of Agarbattis opened in Tirumala

Soon after the Agarbattis unit has been inaugurated at SV Gosala at Tirupati, the sale of Agarbattis has started at four counters in Tirumala, three counters near Laddu Complex and one in TTD book stall located opposite to Srivari Temple.

Revamped Sapthagiri magazine launched

TTD chairman launched the TTD’s revamped monthly magazine Sapthagiri which has attractions like best cover design and scholarly articles, published in six languages.

The Sapthagiri magazine was launched in 1949 in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, English and in Hindi in 1970 and in Sanskrit from 2014 onwards.

All the pages of the Sapthagiri magazine are printed in color from 2016 onwards and it has become a leader in Hindu dharma propagation for last 50 years.

Additional EO AV Dharma Reddy, TTD JEO Sada Bhargavi, CVSO Gopinath Jatti, Veterinary University vice-chancellor Dr Padmanabha Reddy, CE Nageswara Rao, Gosala director Dr Harnath Reddy, Darshan International proprietor Srinivas, Ashok, Harsha, Sapthagiri chief editor Radha Ramana and other officials were present.

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Perseverance Rover collects puzzle pieces of Mars’ history

Newswand: NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover successfully collected its first pair of rock samples, and scientists already are gaining new insights into the region. After collecting its first sample, named “Montdenier,” Sept. 6, the team collected a second, “Montagnac,” from the same rock Sept. 8.

Analysis of the rocks from which the Montdenier and Montagnac samples were taken and from the rover’s previous sampling attempt may help the science team piece together the timeline of the area’s past, which was marked by volcanic activity and periods of persistent water.

“It looks like our first rocks reveal a potentially habitable sustained environment,” said Ken Farley of Caltech, project scientist for the mission, which is led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “It’s a big deal that the water was there a long time.”

The rock that provided the mission’s first core samples is basaltic in composition and may be the product of lava flows. The presence of crystalline minerals in volcanic rocks is especially helpful in radiometric dating. The volcanic origin of the rock could help scientists accurately date when it formed. Each sample can serve as part of a larger chronological puzzle; put them in the right order, and scientists have a timeline of the most important events in the crater’s history. Some of those events include the formation of Jezero Crater, the emergence and disappearance of Jezero’s lake, and changes to the planet’s climate in the ancient past.

What’s more, salts have been spied within these rocks. These salts may have formed when groundwater flowed through and altered the original minerals in the rock, or more likely when liquid water evaporated, leaving the salts. The salt minerals in these first two rock cores may also have trapped tiny bubbles of ancient Martian water. If present, they could serve as microscopic time capsules, offering clues about the ancient climate and habitability of Mars. Salt minerals are also well-known on Earth for their ability to preserve signs of ancient life.

The Perseverance science team already knew a lake once filled the crater; for how long has been more uncertain. The scientists couldn’t dismiss the possibility that Jezero’s lake was a “flash in the pan”: Floodwaters could have rapidly filled the impact crater and dried up in the space of 50 years, for example.

But the level of alteration that scientists see in the rock that provided the core samples – as well as in the rock the team targeted on their first sample-acquisition attempt – suggests that groundwater was present for a long time.

This groundwater could have been related to the lake that was once in Jezero, or it could have traveled through the rocks long after the lake had dried up. Though scientists still can’t say whether any of the water that altered these rocks was present for tens of thousands or for millions of years, they feel more certain that it was there for long enough to make the area more welcoming to microscopic life in the past.

“These samples have high value for future laboratory analysis back on Earth,” said Mitch Schulte of NASA Headquarters, the mission’s program scientist. “One day, we may be able to work out the sequence and timing of the environmental conditions that this rock’s minerals represent. This will help answer the big-picture science question of the history and stability of liquid water on Mars.”

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TTD News: Rooms allotment at Vishnu Nivasam from September 11

Newswand: Rooms would be allotted in Vishnu Nivasam Rest House near Tirupati Railway Station from September 11 onwards to the pilgrims.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam joint executive officer Sada Bhargavi has directed the officials concerned to begin allotment of rooms at Vishnu Nivasam Rest House near the Railway Station to devotees from Saturday, the September 11, onwards.

In this connection, the JEO visited Vishnu Nivasam and inspected the rooms and reception centre and gave suggestions to officials on cleaning, sanitation and Covid measures to be taken while allotting rooms.

It may be mentioned here that room allotments at Vishnu Nivasam was temporarily stopped by TTD since the beginning of the Covid Pandemic and it was converted to a Covid Care Centre and handed over to district administration.

The JEO directed engineering officials to keep signboards at every floor near the lifts about rooms and also on local temples and to enhance the external ambience of Vishnu Nivasam. TTD is already operating buses for local temples for devotees from the Srinivasam Rest House.

She directed officials to allocate 50 per cent of rooms for online booking to devotees at Vishnu Nivasam and 50 per cent directly from Saturday onwards.

The JEO also visited the 2&3 choultries behind the railway station and directed officials to keep the premises clean and hygienic.

Executive engineers Krishna Reddy, Sumati, Dy EE Jogaiah, SMO Dr Kusuma, AEO Sitamahalakshmi were also present.

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Do not use Ivermectin for Covid treatment : says FDA

Newswand: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it clear that it has not authorized or approved Ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

It has warned that even the levels of Ivermectin for approved human uses can interact with other medications, like blood-thinners. You can also overdose on Ivermectin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching and hives), dizziness, ataxia (problems with balance), seizures, coma and even death. 

It has stated in its consumer update that there seems to be a growing interest in a drug called Ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans. Certain animal formulations of Ivermectin such as pour-on, injectable, paste, and “drench,” are approved in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals. For humans, Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses to treat some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

However, the FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with Ivermectin intended for livestock.

Here’s what you need to know about Ivermectin

The FDA has not authorized or approved Ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

Currently available data do not show Ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. Clinical trials assessing Ivermectin tablets for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in people are ongoing.

Taking large doses of Ivermectin is dangerous

If your health care provider writes you an Ivermectin prescription, fill it through a legitimate source such as a pharmacy, and take it exactly as prescribed. 

Never use medications intended for animals on yourself or other people. Animal Ivermectin products are very different from those approved for humans. Use of animal Ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans is dangerous. 

What is Ivermectin and how is it used?

Ivermectin tablets are approved by the FDA to treat people with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, two conditions caused by parasitic worms. In addition, some topical forms of Ivermectin are approved to treat external parasites like head lice and for skin conditions such as rosacea. 

Some forms of animal Ivermectin are approved to prevent heartworm disease and treat certain internal and external parasites. It’s important to note that these products are different from the ones for people, and safe only when used in animals as prescribed.

When can taking Ivermectin be unsafe? 

The FDA has not authorized or approved ivermectin for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 in people or animals. Ivermectin has not been shown to be safe or effective for these indications.

There’s a lot of misinformation around, and you may have heard that it’s okay to take large doses of Ivermectin. It is not okay. 

Even the levels of Ivermectin for approved human uses can interact with other medications, like blood-thinners. You can also overdose on Ivermectin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching and hives), dizziness, ataxia (problems with balance), seizures, coma and even death. 

Ivermectin products for animals are different from Ivermectin products for people

For one thing, animal drugs are often highly concentrated because they are used for large animals like horses and cows, which weigh a lot more than we do—a ton or more. Such high doses can be highly toxic in humans. Moreover, the FDA reviews drugs not just for safety and effectiveness of the active ingredients, but also for the inactive ingredients. Many inactive ingredients found in products for animals aren’t evaluated for use in people. Or they are included in much greater quantity than those used in people. In some cases, we don’t know how those inactive ingredients will affect how Ivermectin is absorbed in the human body.

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