Amid the ongoing controversy over claims that “beef tallow” was used in the ghee for Tirupati laddoos, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) conducted a “purification ritual”  in the kitchens where the prasadam is made.

The Mahashanti Yagam ritual was conducted a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered special investigations into claims that animal fat was used in making the sacred laddoos.

TTD Admits Error, Holds Purification Ritual To Restore Temple Sanctity

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which has maintained the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala, admitted that a “mistake” had taken place due to prasadam and laddoos in adulterated ghee having been offered to the deity. The TTD scheduled the Mahashanti Yagam as a “ritual of purification in redress.” They said the “event was to rectify the mistake and restore the sanctity of the temple.”.

The board admitted that they used panchagavya, or five sacred substances, to purify the laddoo kitchen and the prasadam kitchen. It also claimed that the entire temple premises were “purified” by panchagavya.

Eight priests and three agama advisers attended to the ritual; in addition, Shyamala Rao, executive officer, TTD, and other board officials were present.