NEW DELHI — For hundreds of years, the Venkateswara Temple has stood within the hill city of Tirumala, within the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It’s devoted to Lord Venkateswara, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, protector of mankind. Now, the primary declaration of its staggering wealth has rekindled a nationwide debate over whether or not the temple and others prefer it needs to be doing extra for the general public good.

Venkateswara controls round $28 billion in property, together with 2.5 tonnes of gold antiquities in addition to 960 properties throughout the nation, in response to an evaluation unveiled this month by the temple’s belief. The temple is believed to be the world’s second-richest non secular web site after the Vatican, however it’s removed from alone. India is dotted with shrines endowed with gold and valuable jewels, together with land gifted by devotees.