(Rptg, with correction in 3rd para)

Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, Jan 11 (UNI) The famous Sai Baba Temple at Shirdi has recorded collection of a whopping Rs 35,25,57,100 in its donation box during the calender year ended on December 31, 2006.

Talking to UNI at Shirdi, Chairman of the Saibaba Sansthan Jayantrao Sasane and Trustee Ashok Khambekar said the Sansthan had received 9.326 Kg gold and 136.131 Kg silver in its donation box from devotees during the period.

The Sansthan saw a collection of cash amount of Rs 1.56 crore, 244 gram gold and four kg silver in the 'Dakshina Box' of the Sansthan, during the first nine days of the new year (January 1-9).

Over two crore devotees visited the temple during the year.

The annual income of the Sai Sansthan was about Rs 106 crore and expenditure Rs 72 crore. It had deposits worth Rs 250 crore and the annual budget stands at Rs 187 crore. It had distributed a grant of Rs eight crore towards the poor and needy patients suffering from dreaded diseases at various hospitals during the year, Mr Sasane said.

The Sai Baba Sansthan now stands at number two position in terms of income after the famous pilgrimage centre of Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Mr Sasane and Khambekar said.

The Sansthan has undertaken a Rs 18 crore construction project of 'Prasadalaya' building accommodating 5,000 devotees, work of which was in progress.

The Sansthan has also development plans for its Sai Baba Superspeciality Hospital, one of the major hospitals in western Maharashtra.

UNI