Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh): Amid a major controversy in Tirumala Temple over the alleged presence of animal fat in Srivari offerings and laddu ghee, a purification ritual known as 'Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana' was held at the Tirumala temple on Monday. The ritual, which started at 6:00 am today at the yagashala of the temple, concluded in the evening.
The Shanti Homam was observed as per the tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama in the Yagashala of Tirumala temple on Monday morning to ward off the ill effects and restore the sanctity of Laddu Prasadams and other Naivedyams along with the well being of Srivari devotees.
Speaking to media outside the temple after the completion of the sacred event, the TTD EO Sri J Syamala Rao along with the Additional EO Sri Ch Venkaiah Chowdhary said the holy ritual was as sin-free ritual. As a part of it Vastu Suddhi, Kumbhajala Samprokshana were carried out by the Ritwiks.
The devotees can now put aside their apprehensions and misconceptions about the quality of Laddu Prasadam and Naivedyams. Later one of the chief priests of the temple Sri Venugopala Deekshitulu and Agama Advisor Sri Mohanarangacharyulu briefing on the series of religious rituals said Sankalpam, Vishwaksena Aradhana, Punyahavachanam, Vastu Homam, Kumbha Pratista, Panchagavya Aradhana were performed in Yagashala from 6 am to 10 am.
After Purnahuti, Kumbha Prokshana was performed and Visesha Naivedyam was offered. Henceforth, the Laddu Prasadams and Naivedyams are free from Doshas and the devotees can leave aside their doubts if any. In the evening at 6 pm, the Srivari devotees shall recite Kshama Mantras while doing Deeparadhana in their house and recite, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya and Om Namo Venkatesaya, they maintained.
The purification process consisted of various rituals meant for cleansing and undoing any desecration, EO Shyamala Rao earlier told ETV Bharat. He said that the Shanti Homam was organized as an atonement for any misdeed of adulteration and to remove anxiety among the devotees.
Rao said that the adulteration of laddus was already eradicated with the sacred ceremonies held in August and that the TTD had already clarified that the administration always buys pure ghee for laddus. According to him, an 18-member expert panel was set up to determine the purity of ghee and appropriate steps have been taken to instill confidence in the devotees given Tirumala laddu being defiled.
“The effects of adulteration of laddus were already eradicated with the sacred ceremonies held in August. Devotees are advised not to worry as we assure everyone that the administration always purchases pure ghee from recognized companies,” Rao said.
EO said that suitable laboratories were being set up to test the quality of ghee and the process of sending ghee samples to NABL lab has been started, where counterfeit identification will be done. Rao announced that a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India lab would be set up by the central government in Tirumala.
Among others JEO Sri Veerabrahmam, Temple DyEO Sri Lokanatham, Pradhana Archakas Sri Govindaraja Deekshitulu, Sri Krishnaseshachala Deekshitulu, Agama Advisor Sri Ramakrishna Deekshitulu, Sri Sitarama Deekshitulu, Veda Parayanamdars, Ritwiks and others were also present during the sin-free rituals.
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