Tirupati Balaji's jewels to get 52K-crore cover

HYDERABAD: He's the world's richest god and going by the number of pilgrims visiting his abode, he could arguably be the most powerful one too. The value of his worldly possessions seems to be almost half of the Andhra Pradesh budget of Rs 1 lakh crore. And the onus of protecting his worldly possessions rests with the trust manning his abode.

To protect this asset, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam ( TTD) board has decided to buy insurance cover on the jewellery of Lord Venkateswara, valued at around Rs 52,000 crore. The decision will throw open the country's biggest gold insurance market. "No single insurance company can underwrite such a risk on its own books...," said a senior official of a large non-life firm.

The board is looking at partnering a state-owned general insurance firm for insuring these assets. The insurer who gets the mandate will have to strike a reinsurance deal with an international reinsurer.

Every day close to 70,000 devotees visit Tirupati Balaji temple. In many cases, the donantions are unusually generous. Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, for instance, had offered a diamond-studded crown worth Rs 42 crore to the God last year.

The temple owns about 20 tonnes of gold and diamond jewellery and some of them date back to the 12th century. "We have decided to take insurance cover for these valuable assets. Considering that some of these jewellery come under antique category, it will be insured based on its historical value. Currently, we are in the process of assessing the exact value at which these assets can be insured and we have an in-house team looking into it. Only after the completion of the valuation process we can go for an insurance cover and then we will decide on the formalities for selecting the insurance company,'' said a TTD official.

Despite TTD's efforts, insuring the wealth of Tirupati Balaji seems to be a mammoth task, and has remained an unfulfilled wish. Insurance experts say the premium can be quite high considering the risks involved and antique characteristics of the assets.

Arriving at antique value of jewellery can be a huge challenge for TTD as they need to have documentation to prove historical significance. Insurers say if all the gold is in one place it would require reinsurance support and this might call for survey's.

Tough to put figure

TTD is still at a stage where it is trying to estimate the value and would only then hold discussions for a cover. Usually government departments proceed on their insurance plans by issuing an RFP (request for proposals) followed by submission of bids.

Though TTD is yet to come out with exact valuation of the assets to be insured, preliminary data shows it could be over $10 billion. This can be considered as the largest in terms of assets in a single location, considering that over 80% of the valuable assets belong to the sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill. TTD maintains 12 temples and their sub-shrines.

Till now, ONGC with assets spread in several locations, has the largest insurance cover of $26 billion.

Good news for all balaji devotees who staying in mumbai, Lord Venkateshwara’s Shree Balaji Temple established in Mumbai Western Area. Shree Balaji Temple Project developed by shree balaji foundation in a distinct style at Charkop, Mumbai. visit us at http://www.shreebalajimandir.org

Source: - articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

ShreeVaari Murti Features

ShreeVaari Murti Features 

HE has long hair, which falls on HIS shoulders. HE has a perfect nose, which is not long or short. HIS mouth is also perfect. HE has beautiful cheeks and ears. If we are allowed to measure HIS chest, we could find it would be between 36 inches and 40 inches and waist in between 24 inches and 27 inches. HE has neck that simulates a conch, and waist, which is like a lion's waist. Both are good qualities, which shows the person's handsome and great personality. HE has four hands. Two are in upward direction. These two hands hold Golden Discus (Sudharshan) and Conch. Actually these two are not formed with the idol of the Supreme Lord. But later were molded with Gold, by HIS devotees. The other two hands are in downward direction. In those the left one (in Katyavalambita Mudra), Kati Hasta, rests on the left thigh with the thumb in upward angular direction. HIS right hand (in Varada Hasta Mudra), Abhaya Hasta, shows the downward direction. This is the specialty of HIM. One will not find in any other God's Murti that the right hand showing downward. HE is the supreme and HE gives all pleasure or any thing we want that we beg HIM which is not harmful to others. This hand has so many meanings. One, it is showing the Vaikuntam. Second, HE is giving all the support in all the ways and clearing our requests. Third, HE is telling that everyone should fall on HIS lotus feet. Fourth, HE is the supreme of all, Master of Universe, everything is below HIM, and no one is above HIM, i.e. HE is Alpha and Omega of the Universe.

On the right side of HIS chest, there lies the impression of HIS consort, Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi and is known as SriVatsam. That impression is there as if SHE is sitting there. There are Impressions showing that HE has sacred thread (Yajgnopavitam), four golden chains falling from HIS neck and BujaKirti's (The ornaments on the shoulders). These are clearly visible. HIS chest is bare and HE has also impression of a two inches wide thread, below HIS waist. HE also has impressions formed from Bow and Arrows Pouch on HIS shoulders. It is clearly showing that HE wore them for a long time. Which is true, HE had them (Kothandam and arrows) constantly on his shoulders in His Sri Rama Avatar. Lord Brahma referred these impressions on both the shoulders extending to the arm pit are due to the constant wearing of bow-string (Vinti Nari) and arrow pouch (Ammula podi). So the Idol of Srinivasa has those. HE has strong legs and lotus feet, with ornaments on HIS ankles. All these are impressions, which are formed on HIS Murti which are clearly visible.

Sri Venkateswara has another scar, which is not formed with the original Idol, but developed later. This has a story, which happened in 11th Century. Sri Ramanujarcharya ordained one of his strong followers Ananthalwar to do flower service (Poolangi seva) daily to the Lord. So Ananthalwar decided to grow a Garden atop of Tirumala Hills near the temple. He took a vow that the entire work would be done by him and his family. So he started working and found that the garden requires a water tank. He started digging the earth for the tank. His wife was helping him by removing the earth and carrying it off in a basket. She was in a stage of advanced pregnancy and was facing the trouble in removing the earth. So watching this service which they are doing in a clear-devoted mind, Lord decided to help her in the work of clearing the earth. He appeared as a servant boy and took the basket from her head and throwed the earth at a far place. After sometime Ananthalwar noticed that the removing of earth was going at a rapid pace, which was impossible for a pregnant lady. Sooner he noticed the servant boy, he got angry, because of his vow that only his family would do the entire work and no one should help them. In that anger he threw the crowbar on the boy. The crowbar hit the boy at his chin and blood oozed and dripped off from his chin. In the evening Ananthalwar went to the Temple to offer worship. He noticed that the Lord's chin got hurt and blood dropping from it. So he realized immediately that the servant boy was none but the Supreme God. So he immediately took a flower and applied on the wound and the bleeding stopped. The Lord was pleased for his devotion and service and said "Ananthalwar, the wound caused by your crowbar will heal, but it will leave a scar on my chin, like SriVatsam, and to remember this incident pure camphor should be applied daily. And also let the crowbar be displayed at the entrance of the Temple at a height to be seen by all. So pure camphor is pressed on the God's chin every day. We can notice this along with the crowbar, which is displayed at the northern wall near the entrance.

HE is paramapadam, the ultimate, HE is none but Parabrahma who came down to earth to bestow Moksha on us.

The Supreme Lord SrimanNarayana is giving darshan and continuously showing HIS grace in abundance on the devotees as Sri Venkateswara. HE is the Deity of Kaliyuga who is pouring all the pleasures for the devotees. Once we say Narayana with clean mind and soul filled with devotion, HE responds immediately. HE is Bhaktha Sulabha, means responds easily to HIS devotees.
'Narayana' means one who is embodiment of all things and who is in everything. Nara - Atma, Soul which has no birth or death. Ayana - abode in all beings. Sri Ramanuja propounded that the constant chanting of Narayana Ashtakshara Mantram (Om Namo Narayanaya) will lead one to the Paramapadam.

Lord Narayana and Lord Shiva or not different. Both are one and the same. To make us realize this, Sri Venkateswara’s murti has markings of Cobra on the body and head, Bhujanga Valayam, the girdle of the serpent on the arms. The worship of Him with Bilva leaves during Dhanurmasam as prescribed by Adi Sankaracharya strongly proves that HE is none but Lord Shiva too. HE is also Shakti Rupa, because HE has Simhalalatam in the image, which is the common symbolic in Shakti images. Narayani is one of the names of Shakti. HE manifests HIMSELF to the particular form in which the devotees choose to offer Archa, Meditation. HE is the Ambrosia of Vedas. The Upanishads recognize only one Spirit - Almighty, Infinite, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Attributeless, Formless, Eternal, Incomprehensible, Self-Existent, the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer of the of the Universe. HE is 'Ananta Rupa' means having multiple images and is also 'Satchidanada Rupa' means image of Existence, Consiousness and Bliss (A mix of Sat, Chit and Ananda).

"I am the ultimate goal and the means", in Bhagavat Gita, Lord said to mankind (Arjuna). Let us fall on HIS lotus feet and get HIS abhayam to cross the Samsara Sagaram (the ocean of Transmigration) and enjoy Ananda Sagaram (the ocean of Bliss). HE is Daya Sagar (the ocean of Mercy). HE gives Moksha (liberation from constantly being born in the form of different living beings - depending upon the Karma phala acquired in previous births, or nothing but mingling with the God), once if we chant one of HIS names or Narayana Mantram (Om Namo Narayanaya/Om Namo Venkatesaya/Om Namo Srinivasaya/Om Namah Sivaya).

The birth as a human being is very rare and precious. Hence one should utilize it by falling on HIS lotus feet and surrender to HIM, hence gaining the realisation of Supreme God.

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