Gold-plating of main sanctum sanctorum of Tirupati temple soon

S Janakiram
Hyderabad, Sep 27 (PTI) In a major initiative, Tirumala
Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the governing body managing the
Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, has decided to provide
gold-plating to the entire "Ananda Nilayam", the sanctum
sanctorum inside the hill shrine.
At present, only a portion of "Ananda Nilayam" is covered
with gold and the TTD is planning to give gold coating to the
entire sanctum sanctorum, both interior and exterior, the
Board Chairman, D K Adikesavulu Naidu, said here.
The cost of the project is being estimated and it will be
made public soon, he said. However, the cash-rich temple was
already receiving offers from devotees to donate gold through
the 'hundi' (donation box) in the temple and direct
contributions, he said.
He said the TTD would consult 'Peetadhipatis' (religious
heads) and 'Agama Shastra' pandits before embarking on the
project and utmost care would be taken to preserve the rare
lithographic treasure on the temple's walls.
Replying to criticism that the gold-plating could lead to
violation of the 'shastras' (scriptures), he said the TTD
would move ahead on the plan only after taking suggestions
from the pandits.