Anonymous donation of Rs 63 lakh made to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple for Guru Purnima

On the occasion of Guru Purnima, the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi saw an anonymous donation of a jewellery worth over Rs 63 lakh, including a gold crown weighing 566 grams and amounted to Rs 59 lakhs.

The donations also included a necklace made of silver, weighing 2 kilograms, and gold flowers of over 50 grams. The donor did not reveal their name, address, or any other personal details while giving the donation to the temple.

The CEO of the Sai Trust Shirdi, Goraksh Gadilkar, mentioned how the offering, though monetary in nature, is a token of deep devotion and reverence. "The crown and the necklace offered are not mere metals, but a proof of devotion and gratitude from the heart of that Sai devotee," he shared with NDTV.

He also said, "Guru Purnima has been celebrated at the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi since 1908. The temple receives huge offerings from devotees across the country, every year."

With over thousands of devotees coming to pay respects to Sai baba on Guru Purnima, even people residing in foreign countries, the CEO remembered, "Devotees from Germany, Colombia, and Sri Lanka have come to visit the temple."

In June, Google's VP Thota Chandrasekhardonating Rs 1 crore to the SV Pradana Trust of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), and bank donations to various religious instituitions during revered occasions, donations are considered more rooted in faith than monetary means of devotion.