Page 178 - Demo

PVG Raju had a deep and personal attachment to the temple. Sometime in November 1958, he built a hut and stayed there by himself for twenty-one days (some say 40 days) to practise maunavratam (vow of silence). He only drank milk during this period. In the late 1950s he used his personal income to build the motorable road up the hill, but left the last part out. He felt that the last stretch needs to be walked by pilgrims to get their darshan. Every Chandanotsavam PVG Raju would tonsure his head as an offering to God. This was also the temple where he broke with tradition. He insisted that Dalits be allowed inside to worship the Lord. It offended many people, but he did not back down. This was one of his first acts The Maharaja of Mysore being escorted to Simhachalam temple by PVG Raju%u2019s sons Anand and Ashok164