A row is brewing in Andhra Pradesh over the design of pillars to be used at the popular hill shrine of Tirumala, with Sangh Parivar organizations alleging that they resemble the Holy Cross.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the temple's affairs, placed an order with a Bangalore-based company for supplying 250 pillars made of plaster of paris and featuring engravings. The pillars were to be used during the annual Brahmotsavam festival beginning from September 15.

A sample piece, delivered by the firm, was put on display near Alipiri at the Tirumala foothills. This raised the hackles of BJP and other Sangh Parivar groups, who alleged that such a design amounted to hurting the sentiments of Hindus.

"Already, there has been a systematic proselytisation campaign in and around the holy town of Tirumala. The installation of cross-shaped pillars is yet another instance of insulting Hindu sensibilities," local BJP leader Bhanu Prakash alleged.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of recent protests against alleged religious conversions in Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara.

The state government had banned the propagation of other religions in notified places of worship, including Tirumala.

Alleging that designing 'cross-shaped pillars' were part of a conspiracy to encourage missionary activity at Tirumala, BJP activists damaged a 15-foot sample piece on September 11 at Alipiri.

"The state government is intentionally hurting the sentiments of Hindus. Getting this pillar designed like a cross is part of that game plan," Prakash said.

However, TTD chairman B Karunakar Reddy, who is also the local Congress legislator, rubbished these allegations and said the design was inspired by symbols used at the time of the Vijayanagara empire, which patronised the temple.

"When we chant 'Govinda' in praise of Lord Venkateswara, it sounds like 'amen' to the BJP. This is unfortunate," Reddy said, asserting that TTD was committed to the propagation of Hindu dharma.

The temple's executive officer K V Ramanachary said the design was not yet finalised.

"We have prepared the design on the lines of the architecture symbolic of the regime of Sri Krishnadevaraya," the TTD chairman said.