Devotees who have consumed animal fat mixed prasad of Tirupati can do penance

Kashi Vidvat Karmkanda Parishad announces penance

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) – The discovery of animal fat in the prasad laddus of the Tirupati Balaji Temple has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, leaving many devotees distressed, especially those who have unknowingly consumed the prasad. In response to this, the Kashi Vidvat Karmkanda Parishad has urged devotees to do penance for consuming the ‘abhaksha’ (improper or forbidden to eat) prasad. Acharya Ashok Dwivedi, the National President of the Kashi Vidvat Karmkanda Parishad and former President of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, has emphasised that devotees who feel the need for spiritual cleansing should engage in specific atonement rituals. According to Acharya Dwivedi, Narayana is the original Deity of atonement, and as Tirupati represents Narayana, the proper enshrinement of Deity Vishnu or Shaligram can fulfil the penance process. The
prescribed ritual involves ‘Panchagavya Prashan’, where the devotees are to consume cow urine (gomutra) while chanting the Gayatri mantra, and then consume other cow-based products such as cow dung (gomaya), cow milk, curd, ghee, and sacred river water, each invoked with specific Vedic mantras. Afterward, devotees should recite the verse “Yatvagastigatam pap…” and chant ‘Om’ 12 times. The Kashi Vidvat Karmkanda Parishad has promised to provide guidance and will soon issue an official letter detailing the steps for atonement.

Shankaracharya Avimukteswarananda Saraswati to declare penance based on the scriptures

Shankaracharya Avimukteswarananda Saraswati of Jyotishpeeth stated that many Hindus are reaching out with concerns after consuming the Tirupati laddu, especially considering the discovery of animal fat in the prasad. Devotees are asking, “Have we become impure by eating this prasad ?” and “If yes, what is the appropriate atonement ?” In response, the Shankaracharya assured that he will consult with the experts on Dharma and experts in Hindu scriptures to declare a proper atonement process in accordance with the scriptures.