Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swamy, the spiritual head of Visakhapatnam Sarada Peetham, has opted to retreat from the public eye following the fall of the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in Andhra Pradesh.
Once a prominent figure under Jagan's regime, the seer appears to be distancing himself from public life, at least for the next five years.
On Tuesday, Swaroopanandendra sent a letter to Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, requesting the withdrawal of the X-category security cover provided to him since 2019 by the Jagan government.
In his letter, the seer expressed gratitude to both the previous and current governments for ensuring his safety.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to both governments for their thoughtful and consistent support," he wrote.
Swaroopanandendra stated that he now intends to devote his time to penance (tapasya) at Rishikesh and feels the security cover is no longer necessary.
"As devoted followers of Raja Shyamala Devi, we place our unwavering faith in Ammavaru, the divine protector of all beings in the universe. Swamiji has profound faith in her divine armor," the letter read.
He requested the DGP to take the necessary steps to withdraw his security, assuring cooperation if additional information was needed.
This development comes amid significant setbacks for the Visakha Sarada Peetham.
Earlier this month, the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chandrababu Naidu, decided to reclaim 15 acres of prime land at Rishikonda in Bheemili mandal, allocated to the Peetham by the previous YSRCP government.
Originally allotted at a nominal price of ₹1 lakh per acre, the land's current market value is estimated at ₹15 crore per acre, amounting to a total value of ₹225 crore.
Additionally, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board recently resolved to demolish unauthorized constructions by the Peetham in Tirumala.
The Peetham had encroached on 4,817 square feet of land beyond the 5,000 square feet allotted to it in 2005. While the encroachment was regularized in 2023 under the previous board, the new TTD board has nullified this decision.
Swaroopanandendra’s withdrawal from public life and his request to relinquish security seem to reflect the growing challenges facing the Peetham in the current political landscape.
