Lucknow's Mankameshwar temple bans outside prasad after beef tallow found in Tirupati Laddu

The Mankameshwar temple in Lucknow has banned the offering of 'prasad' bought from outside, permitting only homemade 'prasad' or fruits. This decision follows the controversy over the alleged adulteration of Tirupati laddus, which has sparked widespread outrage.

Temple Directive on Prasad Offerings

Mahant Devya Giri of Mankameshwar temple addressed the controversy on Monday, describing the distribution of adulterated 'prasad' in the Tirupati temple as an "unpardonable crime." She emphasized the need for purity in offerings, stating, “In view of the adulterated prasad being offered in the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, we have requested devotees to ensure that the prasad they offer does not contain any non-vegetarian ingredients."

Giri further added, “For this, we have requested the devotees to bring prasad made with homemade ghee or dry fruits or else offer fruits.” She acknowledged that the directive may cause some inconvenience but stressed the importance of maintaining the temple’s sanctity.

Concerns Over Temple Traditions

Expressing concern over the incident, Giri stated, “We never thought that non-vegetarian food would be served as prasad in a temple. This is a very big incident. There can be no bigger blow to Sanatan dharma. So, the administrators of all Hindu temples will have to make joint efforts to provide vegetarian prasad."

She further condemned the alleged adulteration of Tirupati laddus, calling it a severe violation of temple norms. “This is an unpardonable crime. The people responsible for this should not be given any punishment less than death,” she remarked.

Political Accusations and Investigation

The controversy intensified after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of using substandard ingredients and animal fat in the Tirupati laddus. The ruling YSR Congress Party dismissed these allegations, accusing Naidu of making baseless claims for political gains.

In response to the accusations, Naidu has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the claims of laddu adulteration, aiming to address the concerns raised by devotees and restore faith in temple offerings.

(Inputs from PTI)