In an unusual mix of religions, a temple named after Saint Valentine and Krishna is being planned at Sholingur, a village in Tamil Nadu state's Vellore district.

R. Jaganaath, who is building the "Valentine Sri Krishna Temple," wants to dedicate the temple to the Hindu god of romance with the Christian champion of love, reports Kolkata's Telegraph newspaper.

His plan was to open the temple this Valentine's Day, but delayed it because of the last-minute change to the idol. It was also delayed because the most auspicious time for consecration falls in April, he said.

He has ordered a marble statue depicting Krishna and Radha with a cow and a calf beside them. "We have now asked the sculptor to show the cow licking Krishna's feet to reciprocate his love for animals," said Jaganaath, who plans to spend 200,000 rupees on the project.

The temple measuring just 36sqft (3.34 square meter) will have a 12ft-high tower, decked with a flute and image of Vishnu's feet.

"Legend has it that Krishna had 16,000 wives, so every day was Valentine's Day for him," he said.