Hyderabad: When the “Mahakumbha Samproskhana” was performed atop the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Yadadri on March 28, 2017, history was completely altered.
Since that time, pilgrims have been allowed access to the sanctum sanctorum at the top of the hill for darshan. The temple, which was built on an area of roughly 2,500 square yards atop the hill, had undergone renovations by the Telangana government for several decades. It has already grown to over four acres.
Previously, there was practically any room for devotees to move about after receiving prasadam or receiving darshan. One lakh worshippers can now sit in the open areas surrounding the shrine at any given moment. K Chandrashekhar Rao, the chief minister, has been in the forefront of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple rehabilitation project from the beginning. On March 28, the Chief Minister moved the palanquin carrying the presiding deities from the Balalayam to the main temple atop the hill like a regular devotee.
Renovating well-known temples
The State government is doing renovation projects at other significant temples in the State in coordination with the Yadadri temple refurbishment. This project sees the Sri Raja Rajeswara The construction of the Swamy temple at Vemulawada would cost
Rs. 60 crore. Similarly, the State government is providing special money for the development of the Dharmapuri, Kaleshwaram, and other temples.
Scheme Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam
The Common Good Fund created the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam plan to provide institutions without a source of revenue with Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam and honoraria to Archakas. With a yearly investment of Rs. 26.25 crore, the plan covers up to 3,645 institutions. This year, temples in the Greater Hyderabad area submitted 1,736 applications for financial aid under the programme. They are now being scrutinised and will be extended as soon as possible under the plan.
Defence of temple grounds
Since Telangana’s creation, the Endowments Temple land preservation is given a priority by the department. Since 2015, the agency has conducted special drives and seized 10,359 yards of non-agricultural property in addition to 5,050 acres of agricultural land. The agency is now erecting fencing around significant endowment holdings that are particularly vulnerable to invasion because the bulk of these areas are unoccupied plots. The department is completing 10 lakh rupees worth of work this fiscal year.
additional means of income
The Endowment department is now concentrating on finding alternative sources of income. In order to do this, the department is building retail centres and intends to lease property to oil corporations so they may set up their gasoline stations. Complexes are already being built on property owned by the Chennakesava Swamy temple The city’s Chandanagar and Maruthi Mandir, Dilsukhnagar, are almost finished. The proposal to build a compound on the grounds of the Jham Singh Balaji Mandir in Gudimalkapur has been put out to bid.
Aside from this, the government is also looking at other options, such as renting out property to oil firms so they may build gasoline stations. In this respect, HPCL showed interest and sent representatives to check six areas in Hyderabad as well as a couple in Warangal, Sadasivpet, and Basara.
Online booking and services
For the convenience of worshippers, 20 prominent temples have started offering online pujas or sevas, particularly during the Covid epidemic. The department has also made available online courier service for reserving Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Talambralu in addition to these services. Those who follow it can reserve sevas, prasadam, and lodging options at 36 temples around the State using T-Appfolio. The devotees would get prasadam at their doorsteps.
