Tirupathi sources have reported that recently a devotee from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh offered a 'Sahasra Nama Mala' valued at about Rs8.36 crore, to the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here on the opening day of the nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festivities on Saturday.
Meanwhile the temple sources stated that the jumbo garland, weighing about 28 kg, contained as many as 1008 golden coins carrying 1008 holy names of Lord Venkateswara. Furthermore M. Ramalinga Raju, an entrepreneur, handed over the offering to the priests and top officials of the shrine in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
According to sources it was stated that Naidu was in the temple after
making the customary offering of a set of new silk clothes to Lord Venkateswara
on behalf of the state government on the occasion of Brahmotsavam.
