Sri Ranganathaswami temple 'rediscovers' grant worth ₹5000 crore
Synopsis
Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangapattana of Mandya district, Karnataka, could now be the richest temple in the state thanks to a 'rediscovery' indicating the temple owns property worth ₹5000 in Bengaluru.
The temple recently came upon information that a devotee in 1937 had donated 880 acres of land in Bengaluru south to the temple. However, since the temple was never notified about it, the property was slowly illegal encroached.
The temple came upon the information after the Mandya DC Ajay Nagabhushan received an anonymous letter informing him about this property, with a request to acquire the land. The land was donated to it through a Trust Deed by Dwarakabai, a resident of Malleswaram, Bengaluru, in 1937.
The 880 acres of land is spread across 5 villages and is located in Tavarekere Hobli area of Bengaluru South. The authorities now have swung into action after they were given a copy of Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crop Inspection (RTC) by an anonymous person.
The Mandya district commissioner has now contacted authorities in Bengaluru and an investigation has been ordered in the matter.
The local resident, who for several years have been living on the allegedly encroached property have threatened to take the matter to court.
“In 1937, in the pre-independence days, a woman, who was a resident of Bengaluru and a devotee of the temple had the land as a gift to the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, which belongs to the government’s endowment department. The lands belong to the present Bengaluru South Taluk,” said Mandya DC Ajay Nagabhushan.
“ In those days it was identified as Magadi Taluk. I have sent a letter to the DC of Bengaluru South and have ordered my staff to investigate on the matter and collect the documents to procure the lands that belong to the temple” Nagabhushan added.
Where the properties are located:
The property is spread in 5 villages of Tavarekere Hobli, Bengaluru south taluk.
- 285 acres in Cholanayakanahalli village
- 89 acres in Doddamaranahalli village
- 265 acres in Peddanapalya village
- 95 acres in Byalalu Village
- 145 acres in Kurubarahalli (Kadukarenahalli) village