Chennai: Devotees visiting the renowned hill shrine of Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple, Palani, will be given 20 grams panchamirtham daily, Hindu religious and charitable endowments department minister Sevoor S. Ramachandran informed the Assembly.
Panchamirtham, which is unique to this temple and world famous too, would be given in eco-friendly thonnai cups after the sayaraksha (evening) puja to 2,000 persons on a daily basis, the minister said while winding up the demand for grants to his department on Wednesday. He said the Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has ordered the distribution of this prasadam to devotees who visited the Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple.
A sum of Rs 15 lakh from out of the temple funds has been earmarked for this. Also, two godowns would be constructed at the temple at a cost of Rs 40 lakh to stockpile the panchamirtham.
He also announced the creation of new gardens for 51 temples at an outlay of Rs 2.55 crores. Meanwhile, the policy note tabled by the minister said the government has introduced a new module to upload temple renovation proposals and provide sanctions. During 2015 – 16 Rs 53.04 crore has been allotted from out of temple funds for the renovation of 142 temples.
Earlier, while initiating a debate, former DMK minister K. R. Periyakaruppan alleged that the decision to stop the old age pension to the beneficiaries caused undue hardship to the senior citizens. Refuting, revenue minister R. B. Udhayakumar claimed the schemes was in force.
