GODS LAUGH THEIR WAY TO COFFERS

By C R Gowri Shanker

Hyderabad, April 24: Gods laughed their way to coffers during the peak of Telangana and Samaikhya Andhra agitation with almost all major temples recording huge hundi collections.

Temple incomes have not been hit either due to Telangana, Samaikhya Andhra agitations or recession which affected the industry and other sectors hard.

In the contrary, coffers of temples in both Telangana and Seema Andhra regions (excluding TTD) have gone up tremendously, barring one or two temples due to local festival. Many temples recorded huge hundi collections during the peak of agitations leading to a joke that Telangana and Samaikhya Andhra agitators made a beeline to temples to seek favours.It’s certainly not untrue.

TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is leading the Telangana agitation, began his fast unto death by offering prayers at a temple in Karimnagar. Similarly, several Seema Andhra leaders and activists offered prayers in temples before launching agitations. Though complete income details of all temples are yet to be finalised for the year 2009-2010 by Endowments Department, information that has trickled from all major temples indicated a boom in the temple income.

In fact, 11 major temples alone had recorded an assessable income of Rs 150 crore during 2008-2009 and its income is expected to rise by 20 per cent or more, Endowment officials disclosed.

Bandhs, strikes did disrupt pilgrimage to various temples in Telangana and Seema Andhra regions for a couple of days, but it recovered soon.

“There was no affect on the temples income due to agitation and later on. Most revenues generated are through hundi collections (donations by pilgrims) and sale of various seva tickets. Infact, the incomes have gone up indicating agitators and public faith in Gods and Goddesses,” Mr Gade Venkat Reddy, Endowments Minister said.

In tune with the rise in temple incomes, the Endowments department would strive to improve facilities for pilgrims, he added.Hundi collections and sale of tickets are the major source of income for temples.

For instance, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam, Yadagirigutta in Nalgonda district raked Rs 16,82,12,780 during 2009-2010 as against Rs 13, 35, 72, 790 in 2008-2009. It’s almost the double compared to 2005-2006 when the total revenue was Rs 7,34,24,296, according to latest report.

Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam, Bhadrachallam in Khammam district income too has gone up from Rs 6.46 crore to Rs 7.09 crore while that of Gnansaraswathi temple at Basar in Adilabad district from Rs 4.35 crore to Rs 5.34 crore.

Famed Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy temple recorded an income of Rs 71.17 crore as against Rs 25.01 crore while revenues of Sri Varasiddi vinayaka Swamy temple at Kanipakam in Chittoor district touched Rs 26.26 as against Rs 16.50 crore the previous year, according to Mr Ch V Krishnaji Rao, Deputy Commissioner (Admn), Endowments Department.

Incomes of Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Devasthanam at Srikalahasti also in Chittoor rose from Rs 16.50 crore to Rs 37.54 crore. Income of the famed Sri Varah Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Visakhapatnam too has reportedly gone up, but yet to be finalised. In 2008-2009, the temple earned Rs 12.08 crore.

However, Sri Raja Rajeshwari Swamy Devasthanam, Vemulawada in Karimnagar district, the bedrock of Telangana agitation, suffered slight revenue set back due to local festivals, according Endowment officials. The temple income dropped slightly from Rs 14.78 crore in 2008-2009 to Rs 14.56 crore during 2009-2010.

Eleven major temples alone generated an income of about Rs 150 crore 2008-2009 financial year.

Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam, Vijayawada Rs 26.87 crore, Sri Brahmarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy Devasthanam Rs 25.01 crore, Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Visakhapatnam Rs 12.08 crore. Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Devasthanam, Annavaram Rs 17.03 crore, Sri Talupulamma Ammavari Temple, Lova, Tuni Rs 1.90 crore, Sri Venkateswara Devasthanam, Dwaraka Tirumala Rs 9.97 crore, Sri Sri Tirupatamma Ammavari Temple, Penuganchiprovalu Rs 2.82 crore.Sri Kalahasteerswara Swamy Devasthanam, Srikalahasti Rs 16.50 crore, Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple, Kanipakam Rs 8.94 crore, Sri Raja Rajeswari Swamy Devasthanam, Vemulawada Rs 14.78 crore, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam, Yadagirigutta Rs 13.35 crore.