By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The recent report of adulteration in the laddus of Tirupati Balaji temple has caused a stir across the country, with many considering it an affront to religious faith. Following this controversy, the Mahavir Mandir in Patna, where naivedayam laddus are highly popular as prasad, has assured devotees that its offerings are made from pure cow ghee with no possibility of adulteration.
Acharya Kishore Kunal, Secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Trust, held a press conference on Friday to clarify that the naivedayam prasad of the temple is entirely pure. Expressing concern over the Tirupati Prasad issue, he urged a thorough investigation into the matter. He explained that while pure cow ghee was previously used in Tirupati, the temple management switched to a different type of ghee after a price increase by the Federation.
Demonstrating the use of Nandini ghee, Kunal stated that Mahavir Mandir’s naivedayam is prepared exclusively from pure cow ghee sourced from the Karnataka Milk Federation’s Nandini brand. This prasad has also received the Indian Government’s ‘Bhog’ certification, ensuring its purity. Kunal emphasised that every batch of ghee undergoes stringent quality checks before use, with purity tests conducted every three months. Additionally, the water used in the preparation is regularly tested.
On average, Mahavir Mandir consumes approximately 1.25 lakh kilograms of naivedayam per month, requiring around 15,000 kilograms of pure ghee. The temple spends around ₹94 lakh every month for the purchase of ghee from Karnataka Milk Federation in two consignments. The naivedayam is made from gram flour, cashew nuts, raisins, cardamom, and pure cow ghee. The entire production process is machine-operated to maintain hygiene, and gram flour is prepared under strict cleanliness protocols in the temple’s Panini premises.
Kunal further revealed that the preparation of naivedayam is managed by 100 skilled artisans from Tirupati, who begin their day with ritual baths and prayers in the Brahma Muhurta before starting work. The demand for
continues to rise, and the temple’s earnings from prasad sales are used to support charitable initiatives, including providing free meals to patients at seven hospitals, such as the Mahavir Cancer Institute.
In response to the Tirupati Prasad controversy, Kunal stressed that Mahavir Mandir remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of purity in its offerings and ensuring the well-being of its devotees and the larger community.
