Religious places have special recognition in India, and Tirupati Balaji temple is the most prominent among these religious places. This temple located in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh is not only famous for its religious importance but is also known for the Laddu Prasad found here. Tirupati Laddu Prasadam has special respect, and devotees accept it with devotion. But it has been claimed that beef fat and fish oil have been used in this Prasad.
According to other sources, during the reign of Jananag Mohan Reddy, lard was used instead of ghee in the utensils of Prasad of Tirupati temple. This has created a big controversy in Andhra Pradesh due to Chandrababu Naidu’s claim. Since our government came, we started making ladles of pure ghee. Along with this, Chandrababu Naidu said that we have also improved the quality of food served in Annadan in the temple.
The controversy started on Wednesday when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Legislature Party meeting that the previous YSR Congress Party led by Jagan Mohan Reddy used substandard ingredients and animal fat in the preparation of Tirupati laddu.
Chandrababu Naidu claimed that in the last 5 years, YSR Congress Party leaders have tarnished the sanctity of Tirumala. It is alleged that they compromised on the quality of ‘Annadanam’ i.e. free food and now used animal fat in the ghee used in the holy laddus of Tirumala.
The process of making Tirupati laddu is also considered extremely sacred. There are specially selected cooks to make it who prepare it in the temple premises. Every kind of purity and religious rules are followed while making the prasad. But this recent claim has shocked everyone and raised questions about the sanctity of Prasad.
The story of Tirupati’s famous Laddu Prasad is remarkable. When the idol of Lord Venkateshwara was being installed, priests were unsure what to prepare as the first Bhog. An old woman appeared with a plate of laddus, which was accepted as the first Bhog. The taste was extraordinary, and when the priests asked for the recipe, the woman shared it and disappeared. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi herself provided the recipe, and since then, this laddu has been made as Prasad in Tirupati Balaji.
