By: T Karanakar Reddy
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has reportedly asked officials to increase the height of the Sri Lakshinarasimha Swamy temple ‘gopuram’ to 40 feet from the existing 21 feet in consultation with the temple Sthapathi.
Reviewing the development plan of the temple town of Yadagirigutta with officials and priests on Wednesday, Mr. Rao instructed them to extend the sanctum sanctorum to the north side to make the presiding deity visible to devotees from a distance in consultation with agama sastra pundits. The Chief Minister further directed them to find a suitable place on the hill shrine to install the highest Anjaneya Swamy idol in the world besides he also asked them to install Lord Garuda’s idol at a suitable place.
The Chief Minister wanted officials to clear all the old constructions on war-footing at the Yadagirigutta hill shrine to provide parking for about 6,000 vehicles to find a permanent solution to the parking woes of visiting pilgrims.
Discussing the current accommodation facilities available on the hill shrine, Mr. Rao suggested them to construct sufficient cottages to the visiting pilgrims to enable them to stay for three to four days.
He also asked them lay a proper way around the Yadagirigutta hill to provide a safer way for giripradakshanam for devotees. He also asked the temple administration to ensure the organisation of more spiritual and cultural programmes on the temple premises every day.
Speaking to news reporters after the Chief Minister’s visit, the Sthapathi, Sundara Raja said that they would make the needed changes to sanctum sanctorum and the gopuram in accordance with the agama sastras. Later, the gopuram would also be gold coated.
‘Land owners will get a fair deal’
Allaying the fears of people those who are having private lands around Yadagirigutta, Aler MLA Gongidi Sunitha said that the government would compensate them following the market price while acquiring the land. She said the temple administration would also take control of all the government lands including forest lands available around the hill shrine to develop Narasimha Abharanyam, which also houses a deer park in 400 acres.
Education Minister G. Jagadishwar Reddy, District Collector T. Chiranjeevulu, Chief Executive Officer of Temple G. Kishan Rao, and Executive Officer N. Geetha were present.
Source: The Hindu