He began doing charity work which led his home to be called Lakshmi Nivas.
Hence, Thotadappa built the Goravanahalli Mahalakshmi temple in dedication to the Goddess.
[1] Upon arriving at Goravanahalli in 1925, Kamalamma (a pious devotee) saw the neglected state of the temple.
Other people started arriving, waiting in queue for the darshan of Sri Mahalakshmi.
In due time, the temple gained fame through the word of mouth.