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Amid concerns over the alleged presence of animal fat in the deadly Tirupati, the head priest of the Ram temple on Thursday questioned the purity of ghee sold across the country and said that ‘prasad’ should be prepared only under the supervision of temple priests.
Acharya Satyendra Das also called for a “complete ban” on ‘prasad’ prepared by outside agencies in all major temples and monasteries.
“The controversy surrounding the alleged use of fat and meat in Tirupati Balaji’s prasad is growing across the country. Seers and devotees are expressing anger and demanding an investigation,” PTI quoted him as saying.
In an appeal to all monasteries and temples across the country, he said, “Prasad of the gods should be prepared under the supervision of the temple priests, and only such ‘prasad’ should be offered to the gods.”
He reiterated the importance of examining the purity of oil and ghee sold throughout the country, alleging an international conspiracy to undermine the sanctity of the country’s monasteries and temples by mixing meat and fat into offerings.
He also urged the government to enforce strict inspections of the purity of oil and ghee available in the market.
Meanwhile, several temple authorities across Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj have advised devotees to bring alternatives like dry fruits and coconuts instead of sweets, news agency PTI reported on Thursday.
The prominent temples that have enforced these restrictions are Alop Shankari Devi, Bade Hanuman Temple, Mankameshwar Temple and Lalita Devi Temple among others.
Shiv Murat Mishra, head priest of the famous Lalita Devi temple said, “In the meeting of our temple management held on Tuesday, it was decided that prasad of sweets would not be offered to the goddess in the temple, but devotees have been offered. ask to offer coconuts, fruits, dry fruits, cardamom, etc.”
He added that plans are underway to open shops inside the temple premises where ‘pure’ sweets will be available to the faithful.
Mahant Shridharanand Brahmachari Ji Maharaj of the Mankameshwar temple said that they have written to the district magistrate to prove the ‘laddu-peda’ being sold outside the temple.
With PTI inputs
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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