New Delhi - About 10kg of human hair was stolen from a famous Hindu temple in south India, it was reported on Wednesday.

Police told the United News of India news agency the hair was worth 70 000 rupees ($1 600) and said they have arrested two alleged thieves, who are in their early 20s.

The temple of Hindu god Venkateshwara, more popularly known as the Tirupathi temple, is in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Most pilgrims take one of several vows at the temple: Many shave off their hair and offer it to god, as this is seen as a symbolic sacrifice of the ego.

Others lie prostrate and then roll around the temple, chanting god's name to show their devotion. Some offer their weight in coins or sugar to the temple.

The devout believe any wish made in front of the Venkateshwara idol will come true.

Over 100 000 people visit the temple every day which has a staff of 6 000. The Tirupathi temple is the richest in India with an annual income of several billion rupees.