Mahavir temple second highest earner in N-India

The much-revered Mahavir Mandir in Patna added another feather to its cap when it became the second highest earner among all the temples in North India. The Vaishno Devi temple is at the top.

According to Mahavir Mandir Trust, which runs the temple, the Mandir earned more than Rs 6 crore in the last fiscal. “In the financial year 2011-12, the Mahavir Mandir earned Rs 6,44,63,752. The biggest revenue of Rs 2,49,35,252 was generated through the offering by general public, while the sale of Naivedyam laddoos too earned Rs 2,29,58,914,” Kishore Kunal, chairman of the Mahavir Mandir Trust Committee, told Deccan Herald here on Sunday.

Kunal, a retired IPS officer, said that since the Trust had an expenditure of only Rs 89 lakh, the remaining amount will be spent on Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Mahavir Arogya Sansthan, Mahavir Netralaya and Vatsalya Hospital. All these hospitals are looked after by the Mahavir Mandir Trust.

The Trust has also decided to construct a replica of Angkor Wat temple (Cambodia) in Bihar’s Vaishali district. The proposed temple will come up on the sprawling campus of 15 acres of land on Hajipur-Biddupur road at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. It may be recalled that the Angkor Wat temple was built in the 12th century during the reign of Cambodian King Suryavarman-II. As of today, this temple has the highest shikhar (pinnacle) in the world.

Corpus fund

“The Temple Trust will create a corpus fund for the construction of Viraat Angkor Wat Ram Mandir, with the tallest shikhar in the world,” said Kunal, known for his integrity. “We are expecting Rs 5 crore in this corpus fund. Besides, Rs 3 crore generated through offering by the general public will be initially invested in the construction of the largest Hindu temple,” added Kunal, who is also the administrator of Bihar State Religious Trust Board (BSRTB).