Lord Balaji had told the method, Goddess Lakshmi herself had prepared the prasadam… Story of Tirupati’s laddus

New Delhi: Tirupati Balaji, the richest temple of the country, is situated on the hill of Tirumala in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The idol installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is known as Lord Venkatesh, Venkateshwara and Tirupati Swami and Tirupati Balaji. Till now three things have been famous about the temple. First, it is one of the richest temples of India. Second, the number of devotees who reach here in a year is in crores, and the amount of offerings is also not less than this. The third and most important thing that has been famous is the temple’s prasad – laddu. Symbol of spirituality, amazing taste and a living example of the grace of Tirupati Lord.
This fame of Tirupati’s prasad is in discussion. It has come to light that the famous laddus here are adulterated. The adulteration is not ordinary, this laddu contains beef fat, fish oil and animal tallow. After this information came to light, there is anger among the devotees of Tirupati and action is being demanded against the culprits of adulteration in the holy laddu.

What is the belief?

After this matter comes to light, whatever action will be taken will be a matter later, but the question arises that why is there so much belief of laddu prasad in Tirupati? Where did it come from and how did it start? Let us tell you that the history of the famous Laddu Prasadam of Tirupati is very rich and ancient. Laddu Prasad is associated with the traditional rituals and devotion-worship of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. In the temple of Tirupati Balaji, laddu is offered to him as a special prasad and devotees accept it with great devotion and faith. Actually, Panchameva Prasad has great importance in all the temples of Lord Vishnu. These Panchameva are a symbol of five elements, five senses and five ghosts. Prasad is made by mixing them and in this way laddu started being offered as prasad, which is made by mixing gram flour, ghee, sugar, cashews, raisins. The popularity and religious significance of this laddu made it an important part of the identity of Tirupati temple.

What is the history of Laddu Prasadam?

It is believed that Tirupati’s Laddu Prasadam started in the 18th century. However, there is no clear documentation about when laddu was adopted as a special prasad. However, the immense devotion of the people and its distribution as prasadam is a centuries-old tradition. The most special thing is that for hundreds of years it has been a part of the religious ritual held in the temple premises and it is distributed on a large scale among the devotees after daily worship. There has been no change in the process and ingredients of making it for centuries and this has maintained its unique taste and identity among the people. In the past decades, this laddu has made a different place among the people with the name of Tirupati’s special naivedya.

Tirupati laddu also got Geographical Indication – GI tag in 2009. This means that Tirupati laddu has a unique identity and it can be prepared only in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. This tag ensures that the uniqueness and quality of Tirupati laddu is preserved. These laddus are made by mixing special ingredients like gram flour (besan), sugar, ghee, cashews, raisins, cardamom, and other dry fruits. It is specially prepared in the temple kitchen with a traditional method, which is called “pottu”. A large number of laddus are prepared every day. They are big in size, fragrant and have a special taste.

Talking about the relevance and importance of laddu, laddu is a symbol of auspiciousness and purity in Indian society. Laddus are made by collecting small pieces or powder roasted in ghee, so it is also considered a symbol of unity and organization. Along with this, Tirupati laddus are considered very auspicious and sacred. It is believed that by accepting this prasadam, one gets the grace of Lord Venkateshwara and it is a symbol of his blessings. Tirupati laddu is not only a delicious prasadam, but there is also a religious and cultural significance behind it. The belief behind accepting it is that by receiving it as a prasadam of Lord Balaji, all wishes are fulfilled.

When Bal Krishna ate the laddus of bhog
Along with the religious importance of Prasad in Tirupati Balaji temple, many folktales are also associated with it, which makes it even more special. The reason behind adopting laddus in prasad is related to the childhood leela of Lord Krishna in Dwapar Yuga. It is said that once Baba Nand and mother Yashoda were worshiping Lord Vishnu. Naughty Kanhaiya was playing nearby. Meanwhile Nand Baba picked up the plate of laddus and called Lord Vishnu for bhog. When he opened his eyes, he saw Kanhaiya sitting on the worship stool and eating laddus happily. At first Nand Baba and Yashoda smiled at him, then they remembered that Kanha had eaten the laddus of bhog. Then Yashoda ji made laddus again. Nand Baba offered bhog again, but this time also Kanha ate the laddus. This happened again and again. Nand Baba scolded him angrily and said, “Kanha, wait a little, let me have the food, then you can take the prasad.”

Then Kanha said in a stammering voice, “Baba, you are the one who is repeatedly calling me for the food.” As soon as he said this, Shri Krishna appeared to Nand Baba and Yashoda Mata in his Chaturbhuj form and said that you have made very tasty laddus for me. From now on, this laddu will be as dear to me as butter. Since then, butter and sugar started being offered to Bal Krishna and laddus to Chaturbhuj Shri Krishna. The Chaturbhuj form of Shri Krishna is installed in Tirupati temple, which is the eternal form of Lord Vishnu. Tirupati means the Lord of the three worlds. Here he resides in the form of Venkatesh Srinivas with his wife Padma and Bhargavi. Padma and Bhargavi are incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi and Srinivasa Venkatesh is Mahavishnu himself. There are other stories of Laddu being accepted as Bhog and Prasad in Tirupati.

Dispute between Lord Balaji and Goddess Lakshmi

According to a famous folklore, once there was a dispute between Lord Venkateshwara (Balaji) and Goddess Lakshmi about who gets more Bhog. Lord Venkateshwara believed that he gets the most Bhog, while Lakshmi Mata said that I also have a share in the Bhog that you get, because she is the goddess of wealth and no Bhog is possible without her. To resolve this dispute, both of them tested a devotee. First they went to the house of one of their rich devotees, who prepared various dishes and offered them Bhog, but Lakshmi was not satisfied. After this, they went to the house of one of their true devotees. There, that devotee made Laddus by mixing the leftover flour from his house, some fruits and nuts and fed them to Lord Balaji. This immediately satisfied Lord Balaji. After this, he recognized Laddus as his favorite Bhog.

Goddess Lakshmi herself had made the prasad laddus

According to another legend, once when the idol of Lord Venkateshwara was being installed on the hills of Tirumala, the priests of the temple were confused about what to offer to the Lord as prasad, then an old lady came there with a plate of laddus in her hand and asked for the first offering. When the priests offered it as prasad, they were stunned by its divine taste. When they wanted to ask something from the old lady, they saw that she was missing. Then it was believed that Goddess Lakshmi herself had helped to indicate the prasad. There is also a legend that Lord Balaji himself taught the priests the method of making laddus. It is said that from that time onwards, laddus started being considered as the special prasadam of Lord Venkateshwara, and the tradition of distributing it among the devotees started.

When Srinivas took a loan from Kubera
There is a famous legend that when Lord Venkateshwara married Goddess Padmavati, he needed money for the wedding. For this, he took a loan from Kubera, the god of wealth. It is believed that even today Lord Venkateshwara is present on earth to repay that debt. That is why Lord Tirupati Balaji is taking donations from devotees and filling his hundi (piggy bank). Laddu Prasadam is seen as connected to this debt, as it is given to the devotees of the Lord as his blessing, and in return the devotees donate according to their devotion, so that Lord Venkateshwara can repay the debt.