From Vaishno Devi To Jagannath And Siddhivinayak: How India's Richest Temples Keep Your Donation Safe

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 13:02 IST

Unlike many of India’s older temples, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust does not function under a dedicated state law

The donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has done more than trigger a criminal investigation; it has sparked a larger debate over how India’s temples protect the crores of rupees donated by devotees every year.

As investigators probe alleged lapses in Ayodhya’s donation handling system, attention has turned to the elaborate safeguards followed by some of the country’s biggest shrines—from Tirupati and Jagannath to Vaishno Devi and Siddhivinayak.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust receives an estimated Rs 75 lakh in donations every day, with the figure rising sharply during festivals. An SIT is currently probing allegations that employees handling these offerings siphoned off cash by exploiting CCTV blind spots and procedural gaps.

While the investigation is specific to Ayodhya, most major temples follow multi-layered systems designed to ensure that every rupee donated by devotees is accounted for.

How Does The Donation Process Usually Work?

Across India’s largest temples, the broad process is remarkably similar.

Once devotees place cash, jewellery or valuables into hundis (donation boxes), only authorised personnel open the donation boxes. The cash, coins and valuables are transported to designated counting centres where donations are segregated and counted. The entries related to them are recorded and verified. While the cash is deposited into designated bank accounts, the jewellery is inventoried and stored securely.

The entire chain is generally covered by CCTV surveillance and involves multiple officials to reduce the possibility of manipulation.

How Do Different Temples Protect Donations?

Tirupati Balaji

The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, one of the world’s richest temples, follows one of India’s most sophisticated donation systems.

Its famous Parakamani (donation counting) process involves permanent finance staff, representatives from nationalised banks, and carefully vetted volunteers, including serving and retired government officials. There is extensive CCTV monitoring by the temple’s vigilance wing and personnel are frisked before entering and leaving counting halls. Apart from pocketless uniforms to prevent concealment of cash, there is armoured transport for moving donations to banks under security escort.

However, the temple was rocked by an alleged embezzlement in 2023 when a temple employee was caught stealing cash during hundi counting. Investigators later alleged that around Rs 100 crore may have been siphoned off over the years. The allegations are currently being probed.

Jagannath Temple

At Jagannath Temple, donation handling is governed by statutory rules under the Shri Jagannath Temple Act.

The safeguards include donation boxes opened only in the presence of the temple administrator or an authorised gazetted officer and independent witnesses during counting. The hundis are mandatorily sealed before and after opening. There are also statutory registers for cash and valuables apart from CCTV monitoring. Digital donation channels alongside physical hundis also help with limiting chances of embezzlement and fraud.

Apart from this, different teams handle counting, supervision, security and transportation, ensuring no single group controls the process.

Vaishno Devi

The Vaishno Devi Temple is managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board under a dedicated law. Instead of relying on individual trustees, donation boxes are opened by committees comprising accounts officers, area managers, and security personnel.

The shrine also uses dedicated transport systems to securely move cash and valuables from the shrine to designated facilities.

Siddhivinayak Temple

At Mumbai’s Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, the main donation box is opened every week in the presence of a trustee, the executive officer, a bank representative, and an independent auditor.

Cash is counted under CCTV surveillance before being deposited into bank accounts, creating multiple layers of accountability.

Kashi Vishwanath

At Kashi Vishwanath Temple, district administration officials form part of the accountability process.

Donation boxes are opened under the supervision of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, while bank officials and retired gazetted officers witness counting. Jewellery is valued by government-approved appraisers, and deposit receipts create an audit trail for every transaction.

How Is The Ram Temple Different?

Unlike many of India’s older temples, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust does not function under a dedicated state law.

Most large temples, including Tirupati, Jagannath, Vaishno Devi, Siddhivinayak and Kashi Vishwanath, are governed by specific legislation that defines how governing bodies are constituted, financial procedures, audit mechanisms, government oversight, and appointment of administrators.

The Ram Temple, however, is managed through a trust deed created after the Supreme Court’s 2019 Ayodhya verdict. Day-to-day administration, appointments and financial management rest largely with the Trust itself.

The difference between the Ram Temple and many of India’s largest shrines is not limited to how donations are counted but also extends to who oversees the institution.

Many prominent temples, including Tirupati, Jagannath, Vaishno Devi and Kashi Vishwanath, are governed under dedicated laws that prescribe how their boards are constituted and how financial decisions are monitored. Their donation management systems typically involve executive officers, statutory administrators, government nominees, auditors, magistrates or bank officials whose roles are defined by legislation.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, on the other hand, is an independent trust created by the Centre in February 2020 to implement the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict. Unlike statutory temple boards, its administration is largely handled within the trust itself.

Several key office-bearers associated with the trust, including former General Secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra, administrator Gopal Rao and donation supervisor Subhash Srivastava, have long associations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or its affiliates. As a result, day-to-day administration and financial oversight remain concentrated within the trust rather than being distributed among statutory officials appointed under a dedicated law.

The trust’s internal administrative structure had also come under scrutiny early in its functioning. A private audit commissioned by the trust in November 2020 reportedly described the management framework as “highly unprofessional" and flagged the absence of systematic financial reporting. According to reports, it recommended standard operating procedures for financial transactions, stronger internal maker-checker controls, a clearly defined organisational hierarchy, formal HR processes, inventory registers for jewellery and tighter accounting and IT oversight.

Unlike several statutory temple boards, the Ram Temple Trust is also not subject to mandatory financial audits by the Union or Uttar Pradesh governments. Questions over the extent of public oversight have reached the courts in the past, while the trust has not publicly stated whether all recommendations made in the 2020 internal audit were subsequently implemented.

Who Can Manage A Temple In India?

Contrary to popular belief, India has no single national law governing temples.

The Supreme Court has previously observed that, in the absence of legislation, virtually anyone can establish a temple and receive donations, unless state laws regulating religious endowments apply. Larger temples are often governed by state-specific laws or public charitable trust regulations, while thousands of smaller temples remain privately managed.

Temple administration across India broadly follows three models:

Hereditary priest or family management.

Mahant- or mutt-led management.

Statutory boards or trusts created under state laws.

Can Governments Use Temple Donations?

Courts have consistently held that temple funds belong to the deity and the institution, not the government.

While governments can regulate the administration of temples through legislation, they cannot divert temple donations for unrelated welfare schemes. Courts have also increasingly emphasised transparency, proper accounting and accountability in temple administration.

What Went Wrong In Ayodhya?

According to investigators, the alleged theft was not caused by the absence of a donation system but by failures in implementing it.

The SIT has alleged that the accused exploited CCTV blind spots, hid cash inside washrooms before removing it, took advantage of CCTV footage being overwritten every 45 days, and operated over several months before discrepancies were detected.

Eight people have been arrested so far, while the probe continues into whether standard operating procedures were violated. Following the arrests, Rai and Mishra stepped down, saying they were doing so on moral grounds.

About the Author

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is a News Editor at News18.com with a keen interest in politics and current affairs. She loves uncovering fresh angles and telling stories through long-form features and explainers. Foll...Read More

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