Tirupati Temple Purification Ceremony Amid Controversy Over Animal Fat in Ghee for Laddoos

The Tirupati Temple, a sacred site for millions of Hindus, has found itself embroiled in controversy over allegations of adulterated ghee containing animal fat—specifically, fish oil, beef tallow, and lard—used in preparing the iconic laddoos. The temple’s leadership responded with a purification ceremony to restore the sanctity of these religious offerings and address concerns surrounding the temple’s practices.

Rituals Performed to “Purify” Temple Offerings

On Monday, a group of priests performed a ‘maha shani homam’ ritual at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. This temple is revered as one of the holiest places in Hinduism. The purification ceremony, lasting four hours, focused on purging any negative effects caused by the alleged use of adulterated ghee in preparing the temple’s laddoos, which are considered sacred offerings or prasadam distributed to devotees.

According to Syamala Rao, Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the governing body of the temple, the ritual was held primarily in the kitchen where the laddoos are made. Rao emphasized that they had recently switched to a new procurement system ensuring the use of pure cow ghee, improving both the taste and sanctity of the prasadam.

Allegations Sparked by Lab Report

The controversy was sparked by a report from a laboratory in Gujarat, which indicated the presence of animal fat in ghee samples from the temple’s kitchen. This discovery, brought to light by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Telugu Desam Party (TDP), ignited public outrage. Naidu has since ordered a special police investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.

Naidu also voiced concerns about the temple’s management, accusing non-Hindus of occupying roles within the temple administration. “Many improper practices were introduced over the last five years,” Naidu stated, stressing that only Hindus should have positions on the temple’s management board.

Accusations Against Former Temple Officials

In addition to the concerns about adulterated ghee, Chief Minister Naidu accused former TTD Chairperson Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, an ex-member of the YSR Congress party, of irregularities in the temple’s management. Naidu alleged that the former administration, under the leadership of Reddy and other officials, had compromised the sanctity of the temple by engaging in improper practices.

Former temple Executive Officer Dharma Reddy was also implicated, with Naidu questioning his appointment and the extension of his term. Dharma Reddy, a civil servant from the Indian Defence Estates Service, had his deputation extended by six weeks earlier this year.

Former Chief Minister Defends Practices

Amid these allegations, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has vigorously denied any wrongdoing. He criticized Naidu’s actions as politically motivated, accusing him of stirring up the controversy to gain political mileage. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy called Naidu a “pathological liar” and condemned him for using religion as a political tool.

On the specific issue of animal fat in ghee, Jagan Reddy clarified that a tanker carrying potentially adulterated ghee was indeed delivered to the temple in July but was rejected following quality checks. “Three samples are taken from every tanker, and all must pass inspection before the ghee can be used. If even one sample fails, the entire batch is rejected,” he explained.

Reddy also questioned the lab report, pointing out that it contained disclaimers. The report noted that its findings could be invalid if the ghee had been produced from cows fed high amounts of vegetable oils, such as cottonseed or palm oil, which could affect the test results.

Political Fallout and Legal Action

The issue has grown beyond the temple, sparking a wider political controversy. Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, who is Naidu’s deputy in the state government, has taken the matter into his own hands by launching an 11-day fast as a form of penance for the alleged desecration of the temple.

Kalyan began his fast at a Lord Venkateswara temple in Guntur district, emphasizing the religious implications of the controversy. He argued that if a similar issue had arisen in a mosque or church, it would have caused a national uproar. “Why are Hindus expected to remain silent on such issues?” he questioned.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is allied with both TDP and Jana Sena at the central level, has also weighed in, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the allegations. Health Minister JP Nadda has requested a detailed report on the issue, while Food Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasized that the desecration of the temple and Hindu faith will be taken seriously and pursued “to its logical conclusion.”

Public Interest Litigation and Supreme Court Involvement

In addition to the political turmoil, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court. The petition calls for a special investigative team to probe the alleged use of animal fat in the ghee used for preparing laddoos. The petition argues that this violates Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to freely practice their religion. The court is now being urged to take up the case and investigate the matter thoroughly.

Tirupati Temple’s Daily Operations

The Tirupati Temple kitchen is responsible for producing around three lakh laddoos daily, using over 1,500 kilograms of ghee, along with other ingredients like cashew nuts, raisins, cardamom, gram flour, and sugar. Reports suggest that the ghee in question was supplied by a vendor from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

While the controversy has sparked outrage among devotees and political figures alike, temple officials continue to assert that they are taking every precaution to maintain the purity and sanctity of their offerings. The results of the ongoing investigations will likely determine the future course of action for the temple and its administration.

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