IIM to Tirupati - a Spiritual Journey

Three decades after the temples were destroyed and scriptures burned during the Cultural Revolution, Buddhism is making a comeback in China. Nearly eight percent of the population follows Buddhism making it the second biggest religion after Communism. There are 13,000 Buddhist temples having 2 million monks and nuns and the number is rapidly increasing.
This is not the main news.
Piety and knowledge of Buddhist scriptures used to qualify one to be a Chinese monk. Now, add computer knowledge skills, foreign language ability and degree in financial management.
And like most things in the super competitive, rapidly developing country, it’s become both big business and a field in which people are eager to get ahead.
That’s creating a new breed of multi-tasking, tech-savvy, upwardly mobile monks.
Hui Jui, the Deputy General Manager of 120 year old Jade Buddha temple has just completed his degree in Business Administration and the next batch of monks has already enrolled themselves for the next batch.

Now turn to Tirupati, the home of Lord Sri Venkateshwara. This is the second busiest and richest religious centre after Vatican. The annual turnout is to the tune of 12 million people per year and the temple receives in donation about 10 billion rupees per year.
The temple is run by a trust – TTD and the chairman is appointed by the Andhra Pradesh Government, an IS officer.

What has made Tirupati so different from other religious places?
I believe someone had the foresight to develop the place as a huge Corporation.
Religion is one thing but how to attract people to the temple, the same question that hunts the churches in the Europe & America.
What Tirupati sells is Faith and it has built its brand on this attribute.
Look at the facilities provided by them, place to stay- low cost, no frills but comfortable.
The queues are immaculately maintained, VIPs are treated separately.
The famous Tirupati “Laddos” are made in mass with the same quality standard – as a part of line extension now they are available in your city, neatly packed along with blessings.
Tonsuring is done in a separate area and hair is made to good use to protect the ones who don’t have (wigs).
And can you imagine managing 10 billion per year?You have to pay the priests, create hierarchy and ensure responsibilities.
What do you call this but for an Organization?
TTD maintains its own website and it’s very professionally done.
TTD maintains 12 temples and sub shrines and employs 14,000 people.
And TTD runs it quite professionally and makes profit every year – anything to learn from?