She ekes out a living by begging in front of Sri Guru Narasimha Temple at Saligrama
A 65-year-old woman who was eking out a living by begging in front of Sri Guru Narasimha Temple at Saligrama town in Udupi district surprised everyone on Thursday when she donated ₹1 lakh towards ‘annadana’ at the temple.
Ashwathamma, a native of Kanchugod village off fishing town Gangolli in neighbouring Kundapura taluk, was seen almost every day near the Guru Narasimha and Anjaneya temples at Saligrama. Fondly called “Ajji” by devotees visiting the temple, she used to spend her nights in an enclosure meant to keep the temple’s boat next to the kalyani. Having lost her husband and daughter, she occasionally visits her grandchildren at Kanchugod, according to temple authorities.
Newly elected temple managing committee member K. Ananta Padmanabha Aithal, , told The Hindu Ms. Ashwathamma wanted to offer annadana for February 9 prior to her visit to Sabarimala. However, the temple…