Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Second Richest in Country
9 Jan 2009, 1420 hrs IST, PTI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Shirdi_temple_2nd_richest_in_country/articleshow/3956165.cms
KOPARGAON: The famous Shirdi Sai Baba shrine in Maharashtra has become
the second richest in the country in terms of income after the Balaji temple in
Tirupati, trustees said on Friday.
The temple has collected Rs 81 crore in cash, 920 kgs of gold and 440 kgs
of silver in the form of donations during 2008, creating a record, Ashok
Khambekar, a trustee of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, said.
The temple also collected a record amount of close to Rs four crore and
fifteen lakh in its cash donation box between December 29, 2008 and January
six, 2009, Khambekar said.
During 2007, about 104 kgs of gold, 235 kgs of silver and Rs 60 crore in
cash was received by the temple through donations, he said.
The trust, which was formed in 1992, has an annual budget of Rs 200 crore
which is used for development works such as construction of hospitals, new
buildings and roads in and around Shirdi, Khambekar said adding a super
speciality hospital and a 'prasadalaya' (dining hall) had already been
constructed.
" A LOT OF KNEELING WILL KEEP YOU IN GOOD STANDING."
