Opinion | Should Hindu Religious Institutions Be Freed From State Control?

The extent of government involvement in administering temple wealth has been a deeply debated topic in the nation's religious and cultural ethos. Recent controversies, such as the discovery of beef and fish oil in the sacred Tirupati Laddu, have brought the debate over government control of temple wealth back into the spotlight.

Institutions like the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Kerala's Sabarimala Temple, and Maharashtra's Shirdi Sai Baba Temple consistently receive substantial donations, making them some of the wealthiest religious establishments in the world. Beyond donations, temples also play a crucial role in boosting religious tourism, which contributes to regional economies. A 2016 study by the Centre for Policy Studies estimated that the wealth held by major Hindu temples could be as high as ₹5 lakh crore. Furthermore, a 2019 study by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) revealed that religious tourism - mainly Hindu pilgrimages - contributes around 2.32% to India's GDP.

For example, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), one of India's wealthiest temples, generates annual revenues of ₹3,000-₹4,000 crore. Since it was brought under state control in 1933, TTD's cumulative revenue is estimated to be around ₹1.8-₹2 lakh crore. Similarly, the Sabarimala Temple, under government control since 1950, earns approximately ₹200-₹250 crore annually, adding up to ₹13,000-₹16,000 crore over the last 74 years. The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra, controlled by the state since 1922, generates around ₹300 crore annually, with a cumulative revenue of ₹29,000 crore over 102 years. These numbers highlight the immense financial influence of these temples.