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The woman behind their success

By Our Staff Reporter

ADONI, NOV. 15. Residents of Adoni town owe their success in business, politics and other fields to the goddess of the town, Mahayogi Lakshmamma.

The "lady of miracles'', who lived in the town a hundred years ago and stood by the people during great tragedies became living goddess during her life-time. After her death in 1933, she was buried near the dustbin where she spent most of her time. A huge temple with marble flooring has come up there now.

Mahayogi Laxmamma, popularly known as "Avva'' (grand-mother) had an interesting background.

Interesting background

She was born into a Scheduled Caste family at Musanapalli near Adoni and was dubbed mentally retarded. She was married off to one of her relations near Bellary as the parents thought marriage would make her normal. However, she escaped from the place immediately after the marriage and reached home, which made her parents angry and threw her out.

She reached Adoni town on a bullock-cart and settled down near a dustbin in the marketplace. She endeared herself to business community in the area, who believed in her forewarning. According to elders, she forewarned the outbreak of plague and great flood and forced the residents to leave the village while she alone stayed back. There was a large following during her life time.

After her death, a temple was constructed with the active financial support from the business community. Her social background never came in the way of devotees who even from upper castes accepted her divinity. A silver chariot was built with 500 kg of silver, estimated to cost Rs 35 lakhs. A silver idol of Avva weighting 30 kg and a gold mask with one kg of pure gold were presented to temple by devotees. The chairman of the Trust Board, R. Ramaiah, said the temple offerings were around Rs 50,000 while on the annual festival day in May the temple earnings were about Rs 1 lakh.

With the temple funds, Kalyana Mantapam and Meditation centre were constructed. An amount of Rs 15 lakhs was deposited in the bank.

The endowments department supervised the temple activities through an inspector.

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