Crorepati Gods Get Richer

Forbes magazine might want to rethink its richest people list. The Andhra Pradesh government now apparently has 42 temples that fall in the crorepati bracket.

Forbes magazine might want to rethink its richest people list. According to the Andhra Pradesh government, the state now has 42 temples that fall in the crorepati bracket. How’s that for a power statement?

Andhra is, after all, the land of the super duper rich. Lord Venkateshwara, who resides in the hill town of Tirumala raked in no less than Rs 555 crore in direct income for the year 2009-10, says the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams Trust. A power unto itself, it is the only temple that does not fall under the administration of the endowment department of the government, that maintains records of the remaining 33, 375 charitable and religious (Hindu institutions) in the state. Shall we say a prayer?

Andhra PradeshLord Venkateshwaratemple