Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 7: A Muslim man has donated one and a half Guntas (1,633 sq ft) of his land for the construction of the temple dedicated to Lord Hanumantha. This land located by the side of the highway commands a price of about Rs 30 lac going by the current price of land.

H M G Basha, who runs a truck transport business and resides at Whitefield, has donated this land for the construction of Lord Anjaneya temple near Mylapura Gate, Valagerepura near Hoskote in Bengaluru rural district. He has transferred the ownership of this land to Sri Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple Trust.

A small idol of Lord Anjaneya had been installed in a small shrine at Valagerepura about five decades back. Next to this shrine, Basha owns about three acres of land. As the shrine was built on government land, the villagers were asked to vacate the shrine. The people took a decision to relocate the temple a little away from the place where it currently stands. The people were collecting donations for the purpose.

Basha said that he had noticed that the people found it difficult to move around the perambulatory path because of the small size of the shrine. "The people of the village told me that they wanted to build a bigger temple. They asked me for a Gunta of land. I thought that that much land would not be sufficient for building the temple. Therefore, I gave them one and a half Guntas of land," he stated.

President of the temple trust M D Bhyre Gowda said that the temple renovation is going on for the last eight months. He said that Basha has promised to give more land if needed and also to donate for the temple construction. He said that the foundation for the temple has been laid and walls will be built beginning from January 15. The villagers said they are grateful to Basha for willingly coming forward to donate the land. They said that their village showcases communal harmony.