Prayers offered at temple built in daughter’s memory

Nellore: Vallapu Subbalakshmi was alive till 2011. Though it sounds odd, now she is goddess in Kakuturu village in Venkatachalam mandal as her family members constructed a temple to her. Seven years ago, she met with an accident along with her brother and she died while being treated.

But, her father, who loved her very much and failed to digest her death, constructed a temple in memory of her in the village in 2013. Now, the place where she lived turned out to be a shrine where annual rituals on her death anniversary day, daily sevas and special prayers on all Fridays are attracting the locals.

Vallapu Subbalakshmi had completed her graduation, and secured admission into MBA course in Tirupati. But, she got job as an Assistant Beat Officer in the Forest department at the age of 23. She was working at Naidupet under Venkatagiri forest range office and used to travel by train from Nellore to Naidupet.

On September 20, 2011, she attended for duties and missed train for return journey. So, she boarded Narayanadri Express in Venkatagiri and informed her parents to pick her up at Nellore railway station. 

Her brother Siva Prasad, who runs a juice shop at Atmakur bus stand went to the main railway station to pick her up. Both were hit by a van from rear side while they were walking near railway station and received severe injuries. But, condition of Subbalakshmi was severe with injuries on the chest. 

She was immediately shifted to local corporate hospital where she succumbed to injuries. “We were in shock over her sudden death. She appeared in my dream and asked me with tears not to forget her. So, we decided to construct a temple close to my home where at least we can see her statue and it came to reality in 2013,” said V Chenchaiah, a farmer and father of Subbalakshmi.

He said all the family members supported his idea of constructing a temple which is now a holy place in the village. He mentioned many devotees in the region attend the temple and offer prayers. Daily rituals and special prayers are offered to goddess on Fridays and annual Aradhana festival is being held on September 20.