TIRUPATI: The massive 31-kg diamond and gems studded gold crown, donated by Karnataka Minister and managing director of Brahmani Steel Industries Gali Janardhan Reddy, was taken out in a procession in the four mada streets of the temple of Lord Venkateswara, after Sahasra Deepalankara seva, this evening.
The crown is worth about Rs 45 crore. The crown has a massive 96 carat emerald (pacha), mined in Africa, worth Rs 1.83 crore, according to Janardhan Reddy’s legal advisor Raghavachary.
The crown is reported to be the costliest gift to Lord Venkateswara.
After taking it around the Srivari temple in a procession the crown was taken into the temple. This crown, presented by Janardhan Reddy’s son Kireeti is the seventh crown of the main idol - Moola Virat - and the biggest of them all and weighs 31 kgs.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams already has six gold and diamond crowns that are used to adorn the main idol in the sanctum sanctorum.
The first crown of the Lord is the ancient Akasa Raju crown.
In 1945, the TTD had a crown made from its own earnings.
NT Rama Rao when he was the chief minister took the initiative to get a diamond crown made for Balaji. That crown was worth Rs 4.85 crore. Later Sri Venkateswara Hatcheries donated a crown. Present Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy along with his partner in Kodur Byrates, K Goenka, donated a crown. Recently an unidentified devotee from Navayuga Industries donated another crown.
The donor, Kireeti, has also came forward to take up the any work pertaining to the Lord and the pilgrim amenities. Karnataka ministers Sudhakar, Venkata Ramanappa, MP Siddappa were also present on the occasion.