Kadapa, August 15, 2013: Gopooja was performed with reverence in about 26 temples in Kadapa district on Wednesday under Mana Gudi programme organised by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad and Endowments Department.

Gopooja, offering prayers to cows, is a sacred ritual performed for the well-being of the country, Dubbaka Subbanarasaiah Sarma, Vedic pandit of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Chilamakur in Kadapa district, said on Wednesday.

India Cements Ltd. vice-president Raghurami Reddy and general manager Muni Reddy, Sri Venkateswara temple committee chairman Veera Reddy and their spouses offered prayers. Women applied vermillion and turmeric, offered clothes, flowers, gave harathi and paid obeisance to cows on the temple premises.

Gopooja was performed in Sri Sankarananda Ashram at Palur, Sri Easwari Devi Matham at Brahmamgari Matham, Sri Rama temples in Nagulakatta street, Jolluvari street in Jammalamadugu, at Neelapuram in Duvvur, Tangutur in Rajupalem, Gudipadu, Railway Kondapuram, Railway Kodur, in Housing Board colony in Kadapa, Sri Agasteswara Swamy temple at Proddatur, Sri Venkateswara Swamy temples at Muddanur, Rayachoti and Chimalakur and Sri Chennakesava Swamy temple at Dommaranandyal.

Gopooja was also performed in Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple at Rajampet and Narasapuram, Sri Dattatreya Swamy temple at Peddapasupula, Sri Mitta Malleswara Swamy temple at Pulivendula, Ammavarisala in Mydukur, Sri Uma Malleswara Swamy temple at Kalasapadu, Sri Venugopala Swamy temple and Sri Bhujangeswara Swamy temple at Railway Kodur, Sivalayam at Porumamilla and Sri Balaji temple at Muddanur.

Mana Gudi programme was being conducted by the TTD in order to enlighten the present generation about Indian culture and traditions, in the wake of rising western influence on youth, Subbanarasaiah Sarma said.

The holy cow is a symbol of all the Gods and Goddesses as per Hindu dharma, he said.

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 15, 2013.