TIRUPATI: Believe it or not, onion and garlic are no better than nonvegetarian food in the eyes of staunch followers of Vishnavisam, as they too induce tamas and raja qualities in persons.
Both the food items are shunned by the orthodox followers of Jainism and in several Vaishnavadhamams like Puri in Orissa and Vishnodevi in Jammu.
There has been long standing demand by a section of Vaishnavites for total prohibition of onion and garlic usage on the holy Seven Hills of Tirumala, which is considered the holiest Vaishnavadhamam.
Representations were even made to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) authorities, the custodians of Seven Hills and the Temple in this regard.
As per the shastras, the usage of onion, garlic and masala ingredients are strictly prohibited in preparation of prasadams at Lord Venkateswara temple.
“The TT D has been strictly implementing it in the temple offerings and as well as in the Nitya Annadhanam programme from its inception in 1985 and there has been no complaint from the pilgrims,” VB Parthasarathi, the catering supervisor of Annadhanam canteen said.
In other canteens maintained by the TTD on the Hills, both onion and garlic are not used in the preparation of food, except at Sri Padmavati Guest House, where mostly VIPs and VVIPs stay during their visit to Tirumala.
But now food items sans onion and garlic are being supplied to the guests even there.
Srirangam pontiff Sri Ranga Narayana jeeyar Swami in the past had also urged for prohibition of onion and garlic in Tirumala.
However, private hoteliers and those running private food joints are of different opinion. They say that since pilgrims from different parts of the world come to Tirumala such prohibition should not be imposed.