The executive officer's office of Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple, located on Anjanadri Hill in Gangavathi, Koppal district, issued an acknowledgment letter on Wednesday detailing the verification of gold-plated kavachas and ornaments donated to the temple.
Donated Items Listed
According to the letter released on May 12, the donated items include a prabhavali, a gadhe (mace), a crown, a chhatri (umbrella), a shanku (conch), a chakra (circular disc), two Surya-Chandra medals, two flags, and two chamaras (fans).
Verification Process
The EO office stated that the items were examined in the presence of temple officials, revenue authorities, police personnel, and representatives of Hyderabad-based AMR Group Pvt Ltd.
During the verification, Gundachari Sthapati submitted documents stating that the kavachas were made of copper and plated with 1,400 grams of gold. He also mentioned that the kavachas were prepared using copper coated with mercury and covered with 16 layers of gold leaf.
Discrepancies in Gold Estimation
Goldsmith Gopala Acharya estimated that around 1,150 grams of 24-carat gold was used for plating, while Nagaraj Acharya estimated the quantity at nearly 1 kg with a wastage of 9%, according to the document.
As differences emerged in the reports, clarification was sought from Bengaluru-based BIS-recognised hallmarking centre Merlecha Assayers. The centre stated through email that the exact quantity of gold could not be estimated as the items were gold-plated on copper.
Preservation of Records
The EO's office said all reports, bills, certificates, and panchnama records connected to the offerings would be preserved in the Gangavathi taluk sub-treasury.
