A fresh wave of controversy has erupted in the sacred halls of Tirupati, centered around the revered Tirupati Laddu, a prasadam (offering) considered holy by devotees. A devotee named Donthu Padmavati, hailing from the Khammam district, recently made a startling claim, alleging she found traces of ghutka and tobacco wrapped in a piece of paper within the prasadam she received during her visit to the temple on September 19th. This discovery left Padmavati deeply distressed, as she expressed, “Prasadam is meant to be holy, and finding such contamination is deeply upsetting.”
In response to these accusations, the Tirumala temple initiated a four-hour purification ritual on Monday. The ritual, conducted according to the tenets of ‘Vaikhanasa Agama,’ aimed to cleanse the temple and restore the sanctity of the laddu prasadam and other naivedyams (food offerings to the deity). The purification process involved sprinkling holy water in the potu (kitchen where the laddus are made) and across the ingredients.
Temple authorities, however, sought to reassure devotees, with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) executive officer J Shyamala Rao stating that the sanctity of the prasadam had been restored through the purification ritual.
The controversy has sparked wider reactions, with politicians and religious leaders expressing their views. Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, as part of his 11-day ‘Prayaschitta Diksha,’ performed a purification ritual at Kanaka Durga Temple, citing his commitment to Sanatana Dharma and his faith in Lord Venkateswara.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Hindu Sadhu Parishad has staged protests outside the TTD administrative building, demanding action against those responsible for the alleged adulteration of the Tirupati Laddu. Swami Srinivasananda Saraswati, the President of the Parishad, accused YSRCP President and former Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy of undermining the sanctity of Tirumala temple during his tenure. He alleged that Reddy, belonging to the Christian community, never gave due importance to Lord Venkateswara and prioritized business interests over religious devotion.
These accusations, coupled with the ongoing controversy, have triggered calls for investigations and stern actions against those allegedly involved in the adulteration of the Tirupati Laddu. The incident has raised concerns about the sanctity of religious practices and the need for transparency and accountability within temple administration.
