The tradition of presenting cows and calves to the temple Simhachalam has been practiced by many devotees for a long time. Devotees from the interior villages bring mostly calves to give to the Temple management for its custody and care. The Temple management is supposed to take a good care and make the living stock develop for the temple. But many a time it is complained that the management is not taking proper care that is causing death of the calves.

As many as 150 cows died in Simhachalam temple during the last ten days' period. 20 calves died in one day. Representatives from Viswa Hindu Parishad complain that the management of the temple is not taking proper care and that is the reason for the death toll of cows in their custody.

A cow is treated as mother of the mankind and if they are ignored at a sacred place like an old and famous temple, VHP questions, where else can we ensure their safety? The cows are given away to temple and it is the responsibility to treat them well when the presentations are accepted. It is a sin to ill treat animals in the care of the temple that too cows which are adored by Hindus, VHP objects.

Simhachalam at Visakhapatnam is one of the oldest temples of the State that has inscriptions of Chola King Kulothunga dated 1098 AD can be seen. The deity is Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha. The idol of the deity is daily applied with a fresh coat of sandal paste. Yesterday Nijaroopa Darshanam i.e., the idol without sandal paste is allowed to public to have a darshan (watch). Lakhs of devotees had a darshan inspite of the scorching heat.  Endowment minister C.Ramachandraiah presented silk clothes to the deity on the occassion of Chandanotsavam. 

The Executive Officer of the temple gave a statement later that the temple authorities will take all the precaution to see that the deaths of cows and calves will not take place in future.  A separate protecting shed and a veterinary doctor will be provided to take good care of the cattle. 

(AW-SriJa)