Moved by the kindness of temple officials, Sitalakshmi began to make her donations.

MYSURU: A frail octogenarian seeking alms near a Mysuru temple has donated Rs 2.5 lakh to the temple.

For nearly a decade after she became weak and unable to work as a domestic help, MV Sitalakshmi, 85, would be seen begging at the entrance of the Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Vontikoppal. Now, she has contributed Rs 2.5 lakh to improve the amenities and also to provide prasadam to devotees every year during Hanuma Jayanti . After hearing about her generous contribution, devotees to the temple greet her and even seek her blessings.

Though she resides with her brother and sister-in-law in Yadavagri, Sitalakshmi doesn’t want to depend on others. After she couldn’t work anymore, she would sit at the temple through the day where she’s taken care of by the temple authorities.

Beggar was felicitated by MLA

During the Ganesha festival, she donated nearly Rs 30,000 and a few days ago, she took the temple trust chairman to the bank and donated Rs 2 lakh. Altogether, she has contributed more than Rs 2.5 lakh to the temple.

Sitalakshmi told TOI: “I’d deposit whatever devotees gave me in the bank. For me, god is everything. Hence, I decided to donate money to the temple which takes care of me so well. Once a week, Rajeshwari, who works in the temple helps me take a bath. If I keep money, people will steal it and that’s why I decided to donate my savings to the temple. My only wish is that the temple authorities provide prasadam to devotees during every Hanuma Jayanthi .”

M Basavaraj, chairman of the temple trust, said: “She is different and never demands devotees give her money; she just accepts what they give. She is generous when comes to contributing to the temple. She was felicitated by MLA Vasu during our temple function. After seeing her contributions to temple which we displayed in our temple, people have started to give her more. Some of them even give her Rs 100. Many devotees seek her blessing. We’ll judiciously use her money and take care of her as well”.

R Mariyappa, a retired KSRTC employee, said: “When I heard about her generosity, I was amazed. Hats off to her.” Sitalakshmi’s brother Kugeshan said, “We’re providing her the best possible care. A few years ago, she met with an accident and we provided her the best possible medical treatment. She doesn’t want to stay at home; she goes to the temple in the morning and comes home late evening.”

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Her neighbours Rama and Uma, who were surprised to hear about her generous donation, told TOI: “It’s wonderful. Every day, she comes home and spends a few minutes with us before going to her brother’s house. We’ve been seeing her for nearly 30 years.”

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