Mukesh Ambani, Murli Deora offer prayers at Venkateshwara temple

Tirupati, Dec 27 (ANI): Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lordenkateshwara at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

The visit of Ambani whose enterprise has ample interests in oil and petroleum products coincided with that of Murli Deora.

A frequent visitor to the shrine, Ambani had earlier this year donated a Rs 10 crore to the Reliance Guest House constructed in Tirumala.

The shrine of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala is one of the most venerated pilgrimage centres in India.

The presiding deity is regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu God of perseverance.

Standing atop the 860 metres high hills, the temple's dome is covered with gold and its doors are finely crafted in silver.

The eight feet idol in the sanctum santorum stands bedecked with glittering jewels and already has four gold crowns, one of them believed to be donated by the 16th century ruler of Vijayanagar kingdom, Krishnadevaraya.

Receiving offerings and donations worth millions every year, Tirupati is unique for its tonsure ceremony where devotees offer their hair in reverence after their wishes are fulfilled. (ANI)