Udupi : The sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Krishna Mutt began here on Wednesday amid various rituals. Under the Suvarna Gopura (gold dome) project, a gold sheet covering would be laid in its place.

Speaking to presspersons on the occasion, Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Palimar Mutt said that the project to lay the gold covering was formally started on Wednesday.

The work on the Suvarna Gopura would not hinder the daily darshan of Lord Krishna by devotees. All prayers and sevas would be held as scheduled.

There would be some changes in the schedule of darshan. Devotees could have darshan up to 11 a.m. and then from 5 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The work on the roof would be taken up from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then during the night. The Suvarna Gopura project would be completed in two-and-a-half months, he said.

The Suvarna Gopura project is one of the major projects of the Palimar seer’s second Paryaya (2018-20). The project requires 100 kg of gold, 800 kg of silver and 200 kg of copper. The cost of this project was estimated at ₹ 38 crore. Already 70 % of the gold required for the project had been collected. This also included contribution made by the devotees.

The Suvarna Gopura would have the shape of tiles, reflecting the culture of coastal Karnataka. A copper sheet would be laid on the teak wood structure. Then the cooper sheet would be covered with silver sheet and topped with a gold sheet. Twenty-three carat gold would be used so that the sheet remained strong.

The Sarvamoola religious texts written by the exponent of Dwaita philosophy, Sri Madhwacharya, would be written on the copper sheet using laser technology. The Hamsa mantras too would be written on the copper sheet.