Protest in Tirupati: Seers Demand Action Over Adulterated Ghee in Temple Prasadam
The Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Parishad staged a protest outside the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administrative building, demanding strict action against those responsible for the alleged use of adulterated ghee in the ‘laddoo prasadam’ offered at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Tirupati.
Seers’ Accusations
Swami Srinivasananda Saraswati, President of Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Parishad, accused YSRCP President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy of ruining the sanctity of the Tirumala temple during his tenure. He claimed that Reddy, who belongs to the Christian community, never gave importance to Lord Venkateswara and employed Christians in key positions, treating the temple with a business mindset.
Call for Action
Swami Sadanand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Dwarka Sharada Peetham Math, also voiced concerns, stating that Hindu sentiments were violated and called for no governmental interference in temples. He emphasized the need for a proper investigation and severe punishment for the culprits.
Government Response
In response to the controversy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged adulteration. The SIT will submit a report to the government, and measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Former CM’s Rebuttal
Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the allegations, accusing the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of politicizing religious matters. He stated that the tender process for ghee suppliers is stringent and that the TTD has rejected substandard products multiple times during his regime. Reddy also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Chief Minister Naidu’s actions were politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the TTD.
Doubts Revealed
Tirupati -: Tirupati is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, famous for the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple.
Seers -: Seers are wise and holy people, often monks or priests, who are respected for their spiritual knowledge.
Adulterated Ghee -: Adulterated ghee means ghee (a type of clarified butter) that has been mixed with other substances, making it impure.
Temple Prasadam -: Prasadam is food that is offered to a deity in a temple and then distributed to devotees as a blessing.
Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Parishad -: This is a group of holy men (sadhus) in Andhra Pradesh who come together to discuss and act on religious matters.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams -: This is the organization that manages the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple and other temples in Tirupati.
Swami Srinivasananda Saraswati -: He is a respected spiritual leader who is part of the protest against the adulterated ghee.
Former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy -: He is the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, a political leader who was in charge of the state.
Special Investigation Team -: This is a group of experts formed to investigate and find out the truth about the adulterated ghee.
TDP -: TDP stands for Telugu Desam Party, a political party in Andhra Pradesh.