Interest on investments accounts for nearly one-fourth of the income of the temple of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala even though, according to legend, the lord continues to repay the loan he borrowed from the celestial lender Kubera at the time of his marriage to goddess Padmavathi.
According to the budget presented by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board, which manages the affairs of the Lord of Seven Hills, the Tirumala deity is expected to earn an interest income of Rs 490 crore in 2012-13, which is projected to go up to Rs 555.20 crore in 2013-14. This accounts for nearly one-fourth of the Rs 2,248 crore total estimated earnings of the Lord in the next financial year.
However, while there will be a rise in interest income, the offerings to the lord by devotees, according to TTD projections, will be nearly stagnant at Rs 859 crore, the same amount as in 2012-13. So also is the income from the sale of human hair, offered in obeisance to the Lord. This income stood at Rs 200 crore in 2012-13 and is projected to remain the same in 2013-14.
In 2012-13, TTD expects to earn Rs 181 crore through sale of special entrance and darshan tickets, Rs 140 crore from prasadam and Rs 22 crore from selling gold pendants. The receipts from choultries are expected to be Rs 90 crore while rental amount of hotels and shops, toll gate receipts and other capital receipts together is estimated to be Rs 94 crore. Total income of TTD for the year is estimated at Rs 2,160 crore.
