THE MAN WHO MINDS THE TEMPLE RICHES

In an extraordinary order on January 29, the Andhra Pradesh government placed the mahant of the Sri Swamy Hathiramji Mutt in Tirupati, Arjun Das, under suspension till an inquiry is complete, into the charges of misappropriation of mutt lands. The mutt, custodian of the famous Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala till 1933, when the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) was formed, has been embroiled in legal battles over its land and properties. The estimated value of the mutt’s properties across the country is a staggering Rs 50,000 crore. With the mahant allegedly turning a blind eye to the mismanagement of assets, land sharks have grabbed some of the land with conniving politicians. Some assets have also been disposed of unlawfully, flouting the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowment Act. Political parties are now calling for a comprehensive probe into the allegations. The 2,000-plus years old Sri Venkateswara temple is the richest Hindu shrine and is growing richer by the year. `12,000 CRORE

Total cash deposits of the TTD with banks; annual interest: Rs 845 crore

8,700 KG

gold, besides 550 kg of gold jewellery set with stones, among the offerings by devotees stashed away in banks

125 MILLION

Laddoos, the temple’s popular prasadam, were sold in 2019 at Rs 50 apiece. Starting 2020, every devotee gets a free laddoo MILLION

Annual footfall of devotees from around the world

`1,162 CRORE

Annual income in 2019, excluding donations in gold, silver and precious stones

11.7 MILLION

No. of visiting devotees who got their heads tonsured in 2019