Bangalore, Jun 12: Gali Janardhan Reddy, the Karnataka tourism minister and Bellary mine baron on Thursday, Jun 12 offered a diamond-studded crown worth Rs 42 crore to Lord Ventakeswara Temple in Tirupati. With this he became the biggest donor to the Lord Venkateswara since the Vijayanagara kings 400 years ago. [Update: Gali wants to erase name from crown]
Minister said that the 20-kg crown was a 'thanksgiving' gesture. Sources said that 32kg of 'aparanji (pure)' gold went into its making, besides 70,000 diamonds weighing 4,000 carats. The 2.5-ft crown has a huge 890-carat emerald from Africa engraved in the centre which alone costs around Rs 10 crore. The crown was placed on the Lord's idol during Abhishekam seva on Friday, Jun 12 morning.
It was earlier kept in the Vaibhavotsava Mandapam in Tirumala and special pujas were performed. After a ritual called Sahasra Deepalankara seva, it was taken around on a procession along with the deity, Lord Malayappa Swamy. Then the crown was taken inside the sanctum sanctorum.
Coimbatore (TN) based Keertilal Jewellers took nine months to fashion the crown. With this crown, the total number of crowns placed with the Lord has gone up to seven. This precious crown has been added to the jewel treasury of Lord which holds over 11 tonnes of gold ornaments and vessels.
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Minister said that the 20-kg crown was a 'thanksgiving' gesture. Sources said that 32kg of 'aparanji (pure)' gold went into its making, besides 70,000 diamonds weighing 4,000 carats. The 2.5-ft crown has a huge 890-carat emerald from Africa engraved in the centre which alone costs around Rs 10 crore. The crown was placed on the Lord's idol during Abhishekam seva on Friday, Jun 12 morning.
It was earlier kept in the Vaibhavotsava Mandapam in Tirumala and special pujas were performed. After a ritual called Sahasra Deepalankara seva, it was taken around on a procession along with the deity, Lord Malayappa Swamy. Then the crown was taken inside the sanctum sanctorum.
Coimbatore (TN) based Keertilal Jewellers took nine months to fashion the crown. With this crown, the total number of crowns placed with the Lord has gone up to seven. This precious crown has been added to the jewel treasury of Lord which holds over 11 tonnes of gold ornaments and vessels.
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