The controversy about the adulteration of Tirumala Laddu Mahaprasadam has caused widespread outrage across the nation. The issue began when Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena president, Pawan Kalyan, suggested creating a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ to protect religious practices after it was found that low-quality ingredients were used in making the famous Tirupati Laddu. His comments sparked a debate among various religious groups, with many seers and Hindu organizations agreeing with the idea. They also believe that major temples like Tirumala should have their own Goshalas (cow shelters) to ensure the purity of milk and milk products used in prasadams. Team Hans gathered public opinions on this issue.
Aerially Ranga Chary, a private employee from Nalgonda, expressed his view that temples with Goshalas appear more spiritual. He pointed out that cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, representing millions of gods, and are often worshipped. He emphasized that Goshalas are integral to temple culture and should be maintained in temples of every size. He also criticized politicians for turning temples into power centers and suggested that temples should be free from government control.
U Hanumappa Uppar, a retired employee from Gadwal, echoed a similar sentiment. He argued that the management of Hindu temples should be taken away from the Endowments Department and handed over to self-governing temple trusts. According to him, temples should focus on promoting Hindu Dharma rather than becoming institutions for political interests. He believes that temples play a crucial role in passing on the greatness of Sanatana Dharma to future generations.
Ramadugu Laxmana Murthy, an artist from Nalgonda, pointed out that politicians managing temple trusts have tarnished the image of Hindu temples. He mentioned that during temple celebrations, appointed chairmen and directors often misuse their positions, causing inconvenience to the public. Murthy also called for a reduction in VIP privileges at temples so that common worshippers can have quicker access to darshan. He emphasized that major temples should have their own Goshalas.
T Ramesh Goud from Bhadrachalam expressed concern over the lack of income in many temples run by the Endowments Department. He noted that while the department focuses on larger temples, smaller ones are often neglected. He suggested that the control of temples should be removed from the Endowments Department to allow for better management. He also mentioned that the Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam operates a Goshala but faces a shortage of funds.
Suresh Kumar, an LLB graduate from Hyderabad, shared his belief that temples would function better if they were freed from government control. According to him, this would result in better management and increased revenue. He also stressed that famous temples should have their own Goshalas to ensure the purity of the ghee used in prasadam.
Sravanthi, a teacher from Hyderabad, pointed out that privately-run temples seem to function well, whereas government-run temples often face financial difficulties. She believes that temples should be handed over to autonomous bodies for better management.
Murthy from Bhadrachalam shared a similar opinion, stating that temples run by the Endowment Department have not developed well. He argued that every temple should work for the protection of Hinduism and that the department has not shown much interest in temple development.
Finally, Ootkuri Radhakrishna Reddy, a social activist from Karimnagar, said that the adulteration of laddu prasadam with animal ghee has deeply hurt the sentiments of Hindus worldwide. He suggested that temple management should be handed over to Hindu religious organizations without political involvement. He also proposed that the preparation of prasadam could be entrusted to ISKCON to ensure quality and purity.
