Money Orders Link Devotees to Tirumala Despite Digital Shift

TIRUPATI: In an age dominated by digital payments and instant acknowledgements, a steady stream of money orders continues to reach Tirumala, reflecting the faith of devotees who prefer a familiar and personal way of offering.Curiously, the TTD itself appears reticent about encouraging devotees to make payments in the digital mode. For many elderly devotees and families in rural and semi-urban areas, the post office remains a trusted link between their homes and Lord Venkateswara. Every day, money orders from across the country arrive at the offices of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. For these devotees, the act is not merely a financial transaction. Filling out the form, standing in line and handing over the offering are seen as part of the ritual. Temple fuctionaries claim, “The physical effort and familiarity of the process give a sense of fulfillment that many feel digital modes cannot offer.” Devotees believe that the Lord’s blessings return to them in a tangible form through the envelope sent back to them by TTD. “When the Aseervachanam envelope arrives with the pictures of Srivaru and Ammavaru and akshathalu, we receive it like prasadam from Tirumala,” said Saraswathamma Budda, an 87-year-old devotee from Chinnatippa Samudram near Madanapalle. She said the envelope is placed in the pooja room, as it felt like the Lord’s blessings have entered the home. Before 2009, this emotional connection was often tested by delays. With nearly 30,000 money orders reaching the Tirumala temple every month, acknowledgements sometimes took weeks. Donations had to pass through banks and multiple stages of verification. For devotees who attached spiritual value to the response from the temple, the wait caused anxiety. To address this, TTD partnered with the postal department and introduced the Aseervachanam scheme in 2009. Under this system, supported by postal software, acknowledgements are prepared and delivered directly through the postal network. While TTD supplies pre-printed cards with deity images and akshathalu, postal staff handle printing, packing and delivery, for which the temple pays a nominal service charge. Senior superintendent of Post Offices, Tirupati division, Major Syeda Tanveer, said, “On average, about 500 e-money orders are delivered daily to the TTD executive officer. The initiative allows devotees to receive blessings in a tangible form while also providing steady revenue to the department,” she said. Official figures show that between 2009 and 2025, TTD received 31.68 lakh money orders amounting to `49.18 crore. Though numbers dipped during the pandemic period, the flow never stopped. In 2023–24, 1,35,243 devotees sent `3.30 crore through money orders, followed by 1,35,637 donors contributing `3.19 crore in 2024–25. The current financial year, 1,26,958 devotees have sent `3.12 crore. TTD spends about `14–20 lakh annually to ensure acknowledgements reach donors without delay. TTD Executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal said the figures reflected more than donations. “For many devotees, the money order is part of their worship. Receiving the Aseervadam at home strengthens their personal bond with the Lord. TTD respects this faith and ensures the system continues smoothly,” he claimed. In other words, an online mode of payment “is not very necessary.”



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