The work to lay the golden sheet covering on the wooden roof of the sanctum sanctorum of the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple was inaugurated at Rajangana here on Wednesday. This is an ambitious project taken up by Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Palimar Mutt, who is now in his second Paryaya (2018-20).
The cost of this project is ₹ 32 crore. Nearly 100 kg of gold and 500 kg of silver will be used for the project. Of the 100 kg gold, devotees have already donated about 60 kg. They have also donated ₹ 11 crore. When completed, the Suvarna Gopura (gold dome) of the sanctum sanctorum would have the look of roof tiles used in the construction in the Coastal region.
It will take four months to complete this project. The goal is to dedicate the Suvarna Gopura to Lord Krishna here on the Ram Navami festival, next year. Yet another highlight of the project is that verses of Sarvamoola religious texts written by the exponent of Dwaita philosophy Sri Madhwacharya will be inscribed on the gold sheet using laser technology. As many as 21,600 Hamsa mantras too would be inscribed on the gold sheet 21,600 times.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami said that while a section of people came inside a temple and offered prayers, there was another section which thought of the gopura as god. Constructing the Suvarna Gopura meant or it was equivalent to making an armour for Lord Krishna. “People should not visit temples just for making a show of devotion. Instead, they should concentrate on deities in temples,” he said.
Vidyashreesha Tirtha Swami of Sosale Vyasaraja Mutt recalled that Vidyadheesha Tirtha’s Guru, late Vidyamanya Tirtha, had offered golden chariot (Suvarna Ratha) to Lord Krishna. “His disciple (Vidyadheehsa Tirtha) will soon be offering Suvarna Gopura,” he said.
Prahlad Rao welcomed the gathering. Mohan Acharya delivered the introductory remarks. Gopalacharya proposed a vote of thanks. T.A. Saravana, Go. Madhusudhan, Nataraj Radhakrishnan, Dileep Satya and Jaya Acharya were present.
