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What makes this Gita extraordinary is not only its value but also its structure. All 700 verses of 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita are engraved on gold plated pages.
Using a special engraving technique, each verse is carefully engraved, ensuring that the sacred text remains legible while preserving the beauty of the precious metal.
In Udupi, faith often finds expression in rituals, chants and quiet acts of devotion. But this time, devotion came in a form never seen before. Not in flowers or lamps, but in gold.
As the Vishva Geeta Sanya Samaroh was celebrated in the temple town, devotees gathered at the historic Shri Krishna Math for a moment that blended spirituality with rare craftsmanship. At its centre, the Bhagavad Gita written on gold sheets was an extraordinary offering, worth around Rs 2 crore.
A rare gift has reached Udupi
The Golden Bhagavad Gita was offered by Lakshminarayanan, a devotee from Delhi, who chose the auspicious occasion of Vishva Gita Synagogue to make his dedication. The book was presented to Sri Krishna Matha during ceremonies associated with the Puttij Matha tradition.
What makes this Gita truly extraordinary is not only its value but also its structure. All the seven hundred verses of the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gita are engraved on gold plated pages.
Using a special engraving technique, each verse is carefully engraved, ensuring that the sacred text remains legible while preserving the beauty of the precious metal. Temple officials said the Golden Geeta will now be kept in the Geeta Mandir within the Krishna Math, where devotees can see it during darshan.
A procession that went around Udupi
To mark the dedication, a grand procession was organized through Rath Beedi, the iconic car street that goes around the temple.
The golden Bhagavad Gita was placed in a specially designed golden chariot and taken through the streets in a ceremonial procession. Devotees lined up on the road as the chariot moved slowly through the city accompanied by chanting mantras, traditional music and religious rituals.
The senior and junior abbots of Puttij Monastery led the procession. For the residents of Udupi, it was surreal and heart-touching to see a sacred text framed in gold being carried through familiar streets.
part of a larger spiritual mission
The offering of the Golden Bhagavad Gita is closely linked to a larger spiritual initiative led by the Puttij Matha.
The abbot, Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji, is leading the Koti Geeta Lekhan Yagya, a campaign to encourage one crore people to handwrite the Bhagavad Gita. This movement aims to deepen personal engagement with the text rather than limit it to formal reading.
Under this mission, the Golden Geeta has been symbolically offered at the feet of Lord Krishna. Describing the moment as historic, Swamiji said that the book would become a permanent spiritual and cultural attraction for devotees visiting the Math.
According to him, the gift represents not money, but a dedication towards preserving the timeless relevance of the Gita.
A museum space for a unique scripture
In view of its rarity and value, special arrangements have been made to preserve the Golden Bhagavad Gita.
The temple authorities have prepared a dedicated display area within a museum space at the Krishna Math. The book will be housed in a high-security glass enclosure that is both bulletproof and climate controlled, ensuring that the gold pages will remain safe from damage or theft.
Devotees will be able to view the book securely, making it accessible without compromising its preservation.
Officials said this is the first time that such a golden edition of the Bhagavad Gita has been formally dedicated to the Udupi Math, adding a unique chapter to the long spiritual history of the institution.
more than a symbol of wealth
While the Rs 2 crore price tag of the Swarna Geeta has naturally attracted people’s attention, temple leaders insist that its significance is much more than money.
In a place where scriptures are revered as living guides rather than artefacts, this offering stands as a powerful symbol of craftsmanship with faith. It shows how ancient traditions continue to find new expressions even in modern times.
For devotees visiting Udupi, the golden Bhagavad Gita will not just be something to admire behind glass. It will remind that devotion does not always come quietly, sometimes it shines.
January 09, 2026, 07:48 IST
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