The riches that Shirdi Sai temple owns

The famous pilgrimage centre of Saibaba temple in Shirdi, one of the richest temples in Maharashtra, has ornaments and jewellery worth over Rs 32 crore (Rs 320 million) and investments running into Rs 427,17,02,929 (Rs 420.17 crore), according to official documents.

The administration of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi), governed by the managing committee which was constituted by the Maharashtra government way back on August 23, 2004, has Kisan Vikas Patras worth Rs 51,71,00,100 (Rs 51.71 crore), besides Government of India 8 per cent Saving Bonds amounting to Rs 48,15,53,000 (Rs 48.16 crore), Rs 8 crore (Rs 80 million) in non-redeemable bonds of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, Rs 3,19,30,49,929 (Rs 319.30 crore) in various nationalised banks.

It has Rs 47,82,31,835.64 (Rs 47.82 crore) as Trust Corpus Fund.

The temple trust has ornaments and jewellery, including gold worth Rs 24,41,10,640 (Rs 24.41 crore), silver worth Rs 3,26,19,152 (Rs 3.26 crore); silver coins worth Rs 612,317 (Rs 6.12 lakh); gold coins worth Rs 1,28,89,749 (Rs 1.288 crore) and gold pendants worth Rs 1,12,31,903 (Rs 1.123 crore), the Trust auditor Sharad S Gaikwad said in its annual audit for 2009-10 as the annual report was tabled in the state legislature during its winter session in December 2010 in Nagpur.

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The total worth of the ornaments and jewellery stands at Rs 32,23,59,372 (Rs 32.236 crore).

The temple has earned a surplus income of Rs 94,67,79,142 (Rs 94.677 crore) in year 2009-10 as against Rs 87,22,71,012 (Rs 87.227 crore) in year 2008-09.

The total income during the year 2009-10 was Rs 1,64,88,01,030 (Rs 164.88 crore) by way of rent, interest on savings bank accounts, investments and donations against Rs 1,51,51,43,503 (Rs 151.51 crore) in the previous year.

The immovable property and buildings are worth Rs 79,28,30,95 (Rs 79.28 crore), including the statue of Saibaba worth Rs 8 lakh (Rs 800,000), the annual report stated.

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The chartered accountancy firm also suggested that the managing committee should dispose of precious stones valued at Rs 2,00,79,164 (Rs 2 crore) by conducting public auction, at regular intervals to augment its revenue.

During the year 2009-10, Saibaba temple received donations of 147.10 grams gold valued at Rs 2,44,888 (Rs 2.448 lakh) and silver weighing 4,508 gm whose current value at the end of fiscal year 2009-10 was Rs 1,02,640 (Rs 1.026 lakh), the audit report said.

An interesting point mentioned in the report is that unlike many civic bodies, the Trust has accepted and implemented the Sixth Pay Commission report for its employees.

Also, it says that the temple transactions on a daily basis closes at 2 p.m. Cash received later on is included in the next day's collection.