Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice D. Y. Chandrachud visited the revered Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Sunday, where he offered prayers alongside his wife, Kalpana Das, and other family members. The family entered the temple through the Vaikuntha queue complex and performed prayers in the sanctum sanctorum, according to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which oversees the temple’s operations.
Following the darshan, Vedic pundits conducted a Vedaseervachanam ceremony for Justice Chandrachud and his family at the Ranganayakula Mandapam. TTD Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao presented the Chief Justice with a laminated photo of Srivari and Thirtha Prasadams as a token of respect.
This visit occurs against the backdrop of a contentious political debate regarding the alleged use of animal fat in the ghee used for making the temple’s iconic laddu prasadam. On September 18, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that during the rule of the YSR Congress Party, the ghee was adulterated. He has since ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these allegations.
In response, YSR Congress Party President and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy refuted Naidu’s claims, asserting that they undermine the temple’s reputation and hurt the sentiments of devotees. The controversy has escalated, leading to tensions among political parties in the region.
Just days before the Chief Justice’s visit, Jagan Mohan Reddy canceled plans to visit the temple after demands from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Jana Sena for a declaration of his faith. Jagan accused the TDP-led coalition government of attempting to hinder his visit and urged citizens to pray for the sanctity of the Tirumala temple.
The CJI’s visit underscores the spiritual significance of the temple, even as political controversies continue to swirl around it.