Temple awaits Big B’s promised Rs 1cr grant

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is learning the hard way that when it comes to money, spiritual authorities can be as hard-headed as temporal ones.

The actor promised Rs 1 crore to the Sri Brahmaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple in Srisailam three years ago, but has given only Rs 11 lakh. Temple authorities have been chasing him through letters to cough up the remaining amount, but the actor has not responded yet.

Amitabh Bachchan, accompanied by wife Jaya, son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya and close pal and politician Mr Amar Singh visited the famed hill-top temple in Kurnool district on July 29, 2007.

They participated in the Rudrabhisekham at Jyothirlingam and Kumkumarchana performed at Sri Bhramarambika Devi temple.

After the rituals, Vedic scholars blessed the couples. The temple’s then executive officer, Mr Harijawahar Lal, accompanied them and presented them a memento. Before they left, he also sought a donation of Rs 1 crore for gold-plating of the temple’s Dhwaja Sthambam.

Mr Gopala Krishna, executive officer of the temple told this newspaper on Saturday that Amitabh Bachchan had promised to bear the cost of the Dhwaja Sthambam and immediately shelled out Rs 11 lakh, with the rest to follow.

Should the rest of the money not be forthcoming, Mr Krishna says the temple has another willing donor for the Dhwaja Sthambam which is in bad shape and needs 8.5 kg of gold plating.