Tirupati: Senior priest of Lord Venkateswara temple P Seshadri, popularly known as ‘Dollar Seshadri’, passed away in the early hours of Monday.
Seshadri (75), who was serving as the Officer-on Special Duty (OSD) of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), had come to Visakhapatnam on Sunday to take part in Karthika Deepotsavam festivities.
Seshadri suffered a massive heart attack in the night.
He breathed his last in the early hours of Monday.
Pala Seshadri who retired on July 31, 2006, on superannuation, had been on an extension since then.
Dollar Seshadri had been in the service of Lord Venkateswara on Tirumala for the last 50 years.
Dollar Seshadri’s mortal remains are being airlifted to Tirupati
His mortal remains are being airlifted to Tirupati, where his final rites will be performed.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has expressed shock and grief over the passing away of Dollar Seshadri and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members.
Seer of Sri Sarada Peetham Swaroopa Nandendra Swamy also condoled the sudden demise of Seshadri.
He had excellent command over Agama Sastra dealing with temple rituals and administration this made him serve in Lord Balaji temple even after his retirement on July 31, 2006.
Dollar Seshadri joined TTD in 1978, and continued to serve the temple body as an OSD post his retirement in 2007.
He is known for his key role in the transition-abolition of the hereditary archakas post-mirasis systems at the Tirumala temple, which were abolished by the Andhra Pradesh government in 1996 after a prolonged legal battle.
It may be recalled that Seshadri emerged as the face of the richest Hindu temple in the country.
Though he was forced to quit and stay away from the Tirumala temple for a while after the gold dollar scam rocked the TTD, he re-joined the temple after the Court acquitted him in the case and he again served the temple till his last breath.
He repeatedly told that his only wish was to serve the almighty till his last breath and he lived his life that way.
His service is been extended since from 15 years he was in service of lord Balaji for nearly 50 years.
TTD’s additional executive officer Dharma Reddy expressed his condolences over his sudden demise.
Reddy said that his death was a great loss for TTD.
He further said that Seshadri had served the temple till his last breath.