The Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy temple in Tirumala found an anonymous benefactor after a devotee donated gold armour weighing two kilograms, and at least nine kilograms of silver on Sunday.

According to a report in The New Indian Express, the armour is for Bhoo Varahaswamy, which is a small idol when compared to other deities in the Tirumala temple and all sub-temples.

The temple is located to the north of the main Venkateswara Swamy temple, on the banks of Swami Pushkarini in the sacred Seven Hills.

The report adds:

The Padma Peetham is for Snapana Thirumanjanam for processional deities of main temple. During the Brahmotsavams, Snapana Thirumanjanam is considered very sacred and pooja is performed for three days during the nine-day schedule of the Brahmotsavam. Therefore, the donor requested to use the Padma Peetham for the purpose of Snapana Thirumanjanam, temple sources said.

However, the report adds that the devotee left the temple without taking a receipt, despite the value of the donation being more than Rs one crore.

The incident took place during the annual festival of 'Varaha Jayanti'.

Speaking about the incident, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman Dr Ch Krishnamurthy said "It has been an age old practice that every devotee should first pay visit to this temple in Tirumala before having darshan of Lord Venkateswara as the hill town is known as Adi Varaha Kshetra."  

Many large donations have been made earlier, with the TVS group offering Rs 2 core in donations in July to the temple. In March, HCL Chairman Shiv Nadar donated Rs 1 crore and one rupee to the TTD’s Nitya Annadanam Trust. 

According to reports, the TTD announced earlier this year that it holds 5.5 tonne gold worth Rs 1,320 crore at current rates.

Executive Officer D Sambasiva Rao had then told TOI over phone last month, "Till date, 4.5 tonne of gold has been deposited in various banks including the State Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Corporation Bank. We plan to deposit another tonne gold in SBI shortly."