Vijayawada: The alleged use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of Tirumala laddu prasadam triggered widespread outrage among Hindu religious leaders and organisations across the country, with strong demands for a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible. Several prominent seers and Hindu bodies termed the incident an attack on the faith and sentiments of crores of devotees of Lord Venkateswara Swamy.
Sri Embar Jeeyar Swamy of Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu expressed deep anguish over the issue, stating that using adulterated ghee in the sacred prasadam of Tirumala was a "grave injustice" to devotees. In a video message released on Saturday, he said the Tirupati laddu is revered as the divine blessing of the Lord of Seven Hills, and any compromise in its purity amounts to a heinous act.
Alleging that such practices were driven by greed, he urged the Central govt to initiate strict action against those involved. He also called upon the Andhra Pradesh govt to constitute a permanent monitoring committee for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to prevent such incidents in the future.
Echoing similar concerns, Sampathkumara Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, head of the Mannargudi Mutt in Tamil Nadu, said the alleged adulteration during the previous YSRCP regime could have seriously affected the health of lakhs of devotees. He demanded severe punishment for all those responsible and called for a comprehensive probe to ascertain whether adulteration occurred in other temple-related activities as well.
Also, Sri Vidya Srisha Tirtha Swamiji, head of the Vyasaraja Math in Karnataka, wrote a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi expressing deep sorrow over the matter. He stated that any lapse in the preparation of the laddu deeply hurt Hindu sentiments worldwide and urged both the Central and Andhra Pradesh govts to take firm action.
Additionally, Vishwa Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal posted on social media, describing the revelations as shocking and painful. He demanded immediate registration of FIRs against those allegedly responsible and called for decisive steps to free Hindu temples from govt control.
As demands for accountability grew louder, devotees and religious institutions called for transparency, stringent punishment, and long-term safeguards to protect the sanctity of Tirumala's sacred traditions.
Venu Lanka is a special correspondent, at The Times of India-Vija...
Read MoreVenu Lanka is a special correspondent, at The Times of India-Vijayawada. He covers developments related to VMC/APCRDA, Janasena, education, health, endowments, and agriculture-related stories. He holds two graduate degrees, one in business management and another in law. He completed his post-graduation in journalism and mass communication, apart from completing short-term courses.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment