Mysuru: MV Sitalakshmi (80), a frail-looking beggar woman who had become the talk of the town after she donated her saving of Rs 2.5 lakh to Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple Trust, passed away on Monday night.
For nearly a decade, Sitalakshmi, also known as Sita used to be seen at the entrance gate of the Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Vontikoppal. Despite her old age and weakness, Sitalakshmi did not wish to be dependent on her brother and sister-in-law with whom she was residing in Yadavagiri and thus would sit near the temple. People coming to the temple would often give her money voluntarily.
However, to everyone’s surprise in November last year, Sitalakshmi donated her savings of Rs 2 lakh to Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy temple urging the temple management to use the same to improve the amenities and to provide prasadam to devotees every year during Hanuman Jayanthi. Earlier too she had donated nearly Rs 30,000 during the Ganesha festival held last year. Her act was lauded by all and devotees looked up to her as a godly figure.
A woman who works at the temple and used to help Sitalakshmi have a bath says that she used to deposit the money given to her by the devotees in bank periodically since she was scared that it may get stolen from her possession.
Speaking to Newskarnataka Nagaraj, President of temple trust, said, “We are really saddened by her demise. She was different and never asked devotees to give her money; she used to just accept what the devotees gave. She was generous when it came to contributing towards the temple. After seeing the contributions she had made to the temple, as displayed in temple premises, people started being more generous towards her. Few devotees even started seeking her blessing. With regarding her deposited money, we will speak to the family members and take a call.”
The temple authorities even visited her house in Yadavagiri after coming to know of her ill health.
Speaking on behalf of the family members Kiran Bolar, President, Namma Yadavagiri Resident Association who resides just a couple of houses away from Sita’s house said, “Since my childhood days I am seeing Sitalakshmi. The family members who also happen to be my close friends looked after her very well. We were also surprised when we came to know about her donation to the temple. It was a great gesture from this elderly lady. After this donation, she became more famous. Few weeks ago, based on her request she was admitted to old age home. However, she fell sick owing to her age and got admitted to private hospital some days back. On Monday late night, she breathed last. The last rites were performed at Harishchandra Ghat near the footsteps of Chamundi Temple”.
After completing hospital formalities, the body was brought to Yadavagiri where the residents, temple trust members including Basavaraj, Kapnaiah and Sadananda and Area Corporator Nagabhushan paid their last respect to Sita.
Robbers had targeted the old woman:
Just a few weeks ago, bike-borne miscreants had snatched a bag containing few thousand rupees from Sitalakshmi at the temple premises here. A complaint in this regard was also registered at VV Puram Police station. Video clipping recorded in CCTV is also given to police. After this incident, temple authorities used to keep a close watch on Sita.
Many people used to visit temple just to see Sita:
Following the news of her donation, Sita had turned a celebrity figure and many people from across the district as well from other places in the state used to come to the temple to see Sita. During their visit, they also used to give some money to Sita. She used to tell them I have not done anything great.
