The controversy surrounding the adulteration of Tirumala Laddu Mahaprasadam has caught the attention of the entire nation. Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena President, Pawan Kalyan, was the first to suggest the creation of a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at the national level. This proposal followed concerns about the use of adulterated ingredients in the making of Tirupati Laddu prasadams. Several seers, Hindu organizations, and religious leaders have expressed similar views, agreeing that temple management should focus on preventing such issues. Many believe that temples like Tirumala should have their own Goshalas (cow shelters) to ensure the purity of milk and milk products used in religious offerings.
Social activist Poondru Damodar Reddy shared his opinion, stating that temples should be governed by an autonomous body made up of dedicated individuals from the community. He also emphasized that having Goshalas attached to temples would increase the number of devotees visiting throughout the year.
Sai from Nalgonda agrees, saying that temples having their own Goshalas is a great idea as it aligns with compassionate and environmentally friendly practices. Cows, which are revered in many cultures, also provide organic resources for temple rituals, such as milk and dung. Additionally, Goshalas can create jobs and promote ethical treatment of animals.
VL Narasimha Rao from Khammam believes that the only way to preserve the sanctity of temples is to remove them from the control of the Endowments Department and establish independent trust boards. He pointed out that current trust boards have become political in nature, which harms the spiritual integrity of the temples.
AbhiRam from Nalgonda supports the idea of freeing temples from government control. He explained that giving local communities more authority would lead to better administration and encourage active participation from devotees. This, in turn, would promote cultural preservation and spiritual growth.
B Shanker Reddy from Bhadrachalam suggested that a national-level ‘Sanatana Board’ should replace the Endowments Department. He also called for strict punishment for those involved in the Tirumala Laddu adulteration scandal.
Sugunamma, a teacher from Mahabubnagar, expressed that if the government wants to regulate temples, it should apply the same standards to places of worship from all religions. This would ensure fairness and equal treatment across Hindu temples, mosques, churches, and other religious centers.
Sitara Venkateshwarlu from Wanaparthy, Pebbair Mandal, believes that if temples are managed by independent trusts, decisions could be made more quickly and effectively. He added that Hindu temples are being negatively affected by individuals from other religions working in the Devdaya (Endowments) Department.
Finally, Akinapally Ramakishan from Karimnagar emphasized that temples should not be under government control, but should be managed by Hindu devotees. He highlighted that temples are not just places of worship, but also centers of culture, tradition, and community values, making it important for them to remain independent of external authorities.
