14.5 kg golden crown donated to Lord Venkateswara

The Hindu

Thirupathi, 22 October 2010: Lord Venkateswara, the presiding deity at the Tirumala temple has reaped a rich gold harvest on Thursday in the form of two precious donations. Reckoned as the richest deity in the world next to the Vatican Church, the Lord of the Seven Hills received a fabulous donation of a dazzling golden crown weighing 14.5 kg.

 

The exquisitely chiselled stone-studded tiara was offered to the deity by a Mumbai-based business tycoon who however preferred to remain anonymous for obvious reasons. He handed over the crown to temple priests in the presence of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the chief pontiff of Sri Kanchikamakoti Peetham.

 

On behalf of the TTD, its Tirumala-based Joint Executive Officer, K. Bhaskar received the crown which is expected to be adorned to the main deity on Friday after the conventional Abhishekam.

 

As yet another bonanza, the Lord also received a pair of gleaming golden ‘Nagabharanams’ a serpent shaped ornament which would adorn the deity’s biceps.

 

This ornament is also expected to be adorned to the deity on Friday after the celestial bath. The intricately made jewellery weighing 4.03 kgs and worth about Rs.72 lakhs was donated by the Chairman of the Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Pratap C. Reddy.