Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (MS)

Sullia, Jun 6: The income of Kukke Subramanya temple near here, which showed a marked increase in the past seven years and which was expected to reach Rs 100 crore in the last fiscal, has shown a downward trend. The income of the temple for the fiscal year of 2018-19 is down to Rs 92.09 crore. However, the temple retains the richest temple spot in the state of Karnataka among the Muzrai temples.

In the year 2017-18 the temple recorded an income of Rs 95.92 crore. So the income is down by Rs 3.83 crore this fiscal. The main reasons for the downfall in the income are the money that is kept in reserve for the developmental works of the temple, which is not available to be kept in fixed deposit and the reduction in the number of devotees visiting the temple due to the second phase development of Shiradi Ghat and natural calamities which prevented the devotees from accessing the temple by road.

This year along with the Sarpa Samskara vow, Brahmaratha - Ashlesha Bali Seve, the rituals of Thulabhara, Sheshaseve, Panchamrita and Mahabhisheka also saw an increase. Vow services, rituals, offeratory box collection, rent from the dormitories and the income from agriculture are the main sources of income of the temple.

The developmental works at a cost of Rs 180 crore are in progress. Rs 68 cror is deposited with the PWD department for the development of road. The administration committee has a deposit of Rs 73 crore including this amount in order to provide better facilities for the devotees. If this money was kept in fixed deposit, then the income of the temple would have gone much high.

Nithyananda Mundodi, president of managing committee of the temple says, "We have given priority to development for the benefit of the devotees, after our administrative committee has assumed power. The cut-off of road connectivity to the temple due to natural calamities and developmental work has affected the income of the temple."