In light of the controversy surrounding the alleged use of “beef tallow” in the ghee for the famous tirupati laddoos, the tirumala tirupati Devasthanams conducted a “purification ritual” in the kitchens on september 23.
Following the Shanti Homam ceremony, the chief priest announced that “everything is purified” and encouraged devotees to visit the temple to receive blessings from balaji and purchase the laddoos. This development came after andhra pradesh Chief minister N. chandrababu naidu called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the claims of animal fat being used in the laddoos, which has now escalated to the supreme Court.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has requested a court-monitored investigation into the allegations, while the vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has urged the court to take immediate action and investigate the matter. YSRCP rajya sabha MP Y.V. Subba reddy has also petitioned the supreme court for an independent inquiry led by a retired judge.
The tirumala tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the sri venkateswara swamy temple, acknowledged that a “mistake” occurred in offering prasadam made with adulterated ghee and organized the Mahashanti Yagam as a purification ceremony to atone for this error. The ttd stated that panchagavya (five sacred products) were used to purify both the laddoo and prasadam kitchens, ensuring the entire temple grounds were sanctified.
Eight priests and three agama advisers participated in the ritual, along with ttd executive officer Shyamala Rao and other officials.
"For several days, news spread globally about the ghee used in Balaji’s laddoos containing animal fat. The andhra pradesh government and ttd management consulted us for a resolution, leading to the decision to perform the Shanti Homam," explained chief priest krishna Seshachala Swamy. He added, "After seeking blessings from Lord Venkateswara, we performed the homam, and now everything is purified. I invite all devotees to come to tirupati, seek blessings, and buy laddoos to share with loved ones."
The supreme court is now involved due to the controversy over the laddoos' sanctity. Swamy's petition calls for a court-supervised investigation into the claims of animal fat usage and emphadata-sizes the need for proper quality checks on suppliers of temple ingredients.
The VHP has similarly urged the supreme court to take swift action regarding the allegations, stressing that any delays could provoke widespread unrest among Hindu communities. They expressed concerns over the recent political exchanges between the ruling nda and opposition YSRCP, which have caused significant distress among devotees.
Regarding the latest developments in the laddoo controversy, ttd sources indicated that Rao met with Naidu to discuss the situation and submitted a preliminary report. Following Naidu’s allegations about the previous administration's involvement in using animal fat, TTD’s executive officer revealed that tests had confirmed adulteration in certain samples, prompting the board to blacklist the contractor responsible for supplying the ghee.
As the issue gained national attention, Naidu announced the formation of a SIT to investigate the alleged adulteration, asserting that the government would take decisive measures to prevent future occurrences.