Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has accused the previous Jagan Mohan government of mixing animal fat in the Tirupati temple's laddu prasad.
Chandrababu said on Wednesday (September 18), that in the last 5 years, YSR Congress Party leaders have tarnished the sanctity of Tirumala. He compromised the quality of 'annadanam' (free food).
Even the sacred laddu of Tirumala used animal fat instead of ghee. However now we use pure ghee in prasad. We are working hard to protect the sanctity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
This laddu is offered as prasad at the Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. The temple is managed by Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD).
YSR Congress leader said- Chandrababu has hurt the faith of Hindus
At the same time, senior YSR Congress Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy said that Chandrababu Naidu has committed a great sin by hurting the holy temple of Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus. Chandrababu's comments on Tirumala Prasad are highly reprehensible. No human can make such accusations.
He further said that this has once again proved that Chandrababu does not hesitate to do anything bad for political gain. To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I and my family are ready to swear to God as a witness in the matter of Tirumala Prasad. Is Chandrababu also ready to take oath with the family?
Tirupati Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara
Sri Venkateswara Temple is built on Tirumala hill in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. It is also known as Tirupati Balaji Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. He is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Lord Venkateswara incarnated to save people from the hardships and troubles of Kali Yuga.
Venkateswara Temple is called 'Kaliyuga Vaikuntha' and Lord Venkateswara is called 'Kaliyuga Pratiksha Daivam'.
Some special things related to Tirupati temple…
- Hair is donated here: It is believed that one who leaves all sins and evils from his mind here, all his sorrows are removed by Goddess Lakshmi. So people leave their hair here as a symbol of all their evil and sins.
- Tulsi leaves are not given to devotees: Tulsi leaves offered to the Lord in all the temples are later given to the devotees as Prasad. Like other Vaishnava temples, Tulsi leaves are offered to the Lord every day, but they are not given to the devotees as Prasad. After worship, those basil leaves are thrown into the well present in the temple premises.
- Lord Vishnu is called Venkateswara: The temple is said to be built on the seven peaks of Mount Meru, its 7 peaks symbolizing the seven hoods of Sheshnaga. These peaks are called Seshadri, Niladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishtadri, Narayanadri and Vyankatadri.
- Among them, Lord Vishnu is seated on a peak called Vyankatadri and that is why he is known as Vyankateswara.
- Lord Balaji gave personal darshan to Ramanujacharya here: Apart from the temple of Balaji, there are many other temples here like Akash Ganga, Papanashak Tirtha, Vaikuntha Tirtha, Jalvitirtha, Tiruchanur. All these places are associated with the pastimes of God. It is said that Sri Ramanujacharyaji lived for about one hundred and fifty years and served Lord Vishnu all his life, as a result of which the Lord appeared to him here.
Apart from the temple of Balaji in Tirupati there are many other temples like Akash Ganga, Papanashak Tirtha, Vaikuntha Tirtha, Jalvitirtha, Tiruchanur.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).