Late IRS officer donates ₹3.66 crore estate to Tirupati temple, fulfilling a lifelong vow of faith

In a moving testament to lifelong faith, the family of late IRS officer YVSS Bhaskar Rao has donated property and money worth ₹3.66 crore to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), fulfilling his final wish to serve the deity he deeply revered — Sri Venkateswara Swamy.

Rao, who retired as an officer of the Indian Revenue Service, left behind a detailed will bequeathing his 3,500-square-foot residence and substantial cash savings to the temple trust that manages the iconic hill shrine in Tirumala. The residential building, named Ananda Nilayam, is located in Vanasthalipuram on the outskirts of Hyderabad and valued at ₹3 crore.

“He had unwavering devotion to Lord Venkateswara,” temple officials said. “It was his heartfelt wish that his assets be used for spiritual and charitable purposes under the TTD’s guidance.”

Rao’s will directed that the building be used to conduct spiritual programs and religious activities. In addition to the property, ₹66 lakh from his personal bank accounts has been allocated to various TTD-administered charitable trusts:

• ₹36 lakh to the Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust (which provides free meals to devotees),
• ₹6 lakh each to the Sarva Sreyas Trust, Veda Parirakshana Trust, Go Samrakshana Trust, Vidyadana Trust, and SRIVANI Trust.

On Thursday, Rao’s trustees — M. Devaraj Reddy, V. Satyanarayana, and B. Lokanath —handed over the property documents and donation cheques to TTD Additional Executive Officer C. Venkaiah Chowdary at the Ranganayakula Mandapam.

The TTD official praised the family and trustees for honouring Rao’s spiritual commitment. “This noble gesture will benefit thousands of devotees and preserve dharmic traditions,” Chowdary said after felicitating the donors.

YVSS Bhaskar Rao's final act stands as a powerful reminder of how devotion can transcend a lifetime, leaving behind a legacy of service and faith.