Chamarajanagar: Devotees donated ₹3,37,06,956 to the hundi of the Sri Kshetra Male Mahadeshwara Betta Temple over the past 41 days, while also offering 58 grams of gold and 1.25 kg of silver ornaments, authorities said on Wednesday.
The hundi was opened on Tuesday at the commercial complex near the MM Hills bus stand in the presence of Male Mahadeshwara Kshetra Development Authority Secretary G. Purushottam and Salur Brihan Mutt President Sri Shanta Mallikarjuna Swamiji. The counting, carried out under CCTV surveillance, concluded on Wednesday evening.
According to authority officials, the rise in donations was attributed to the increased number of devotees visiting the shrine following the implementation of the state’s Shakti Scheme, government holidays, Amavasya special pujas and the annual Jatra Mahotsava. Thousands of devotees visited the temple during the period.
During the counting, officials also found four ₹2,000 currency notes, which have been withdrawn from circulation, and 10 foreign currency notes.
The counting process was conducted in the presence of nominated authority members Mahadevappa Keelanapura, Bhagyamma Kupya, Mariswamy Kagalavadi, Gangana Thimmaiah Mellahalli and Kumar Vijaya Ravandur, Financial Advisor Mahadeva C., Deputy Secretary G.L. Chandrashekar, Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner’s Office official R. Bharathi, officials of Bank of Baroda’s Kollegal branch, police personnel and authority staff.