A video showing a snail in the sacred Pulihora (lemon rice) prasadam distributed at the renowned Varaha Nrusimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, has gone viral on social media, triggering an official inquiry and raising concerns about hygiene standards. The incident, which occurred on Monday, a day before Mukkoti Ekadasi, has drawn the attention of district authorities.
What the Viral Video Shows
According to sources, a young couple from Gajuwaka visited the temple on Monday. After purchasing the Pulihora prasadam from a counter inside the temple complex, they allegedly discovered a part of a snail, complete with its shell, upon opening the packet. The couple recorded a video detailing their experience, which they later uploaded to social media platforms. In the clip, they cautioned other devotees to be careful while consuming the temple offering.
The male devotee stated in the video that when they brought the issue to the attention of the staff at the prasadam counter, the personnel reacted rudely. The staff reportedly took back the contaminated packet and offered a replacement, which the couple refused to accept. "We refused to accept another prasadam and returned," he said.
Temple and Official Response
The video quickly gained traction online, prompting Visakhapatnam District Collector MN Harendira Prasad to seek a report on the matter. Temple authorities have initiated a formal investigation.
Temple Executive Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Endowments, N Sujatha, addressed the allegations. She stated that the staff at the prasadam counters were questioned about the incident. Sujatha expressed skepticism about the possibility of a snail being mixed into the prasadam during preparation. She explained that the prasadam-making area is a large, clean facility.
"There is no chance of a snail being mixed in the prasadam, as the prasadam-making area is clean and a big area," Sujatha said. She provided a technical rationale, noting that if a snail had been present in the raw rice or tempering spices (popu dinusulu), the shell would not have remained intact. Similarly, if it had been mixed with the tamarind, it would have been separated by machine, crushed, and turned yellow from the turmeric. The temple is now attempting to identify the couple who uploaded the video.
Ongoing Investigation and Aftermath
Despite the temple administration's defense of its processes, an inquiry is underway. Sujatha confirmed that a preliminary report has been submitted to both the District Collector and the Endowment Commissioner. The incident has sparked a debate among devotees and the public regarding the quality control and hygiene protocols in place for mass-produced temple prasadam.
This controversy highlights the critical importance of maintaining impeccable hygiene standards in religious institutions where food is prepared and distributed to thousands of devotees daily. The outcome of the official inquiry is awaited to determine the exact circumstances that led to this disturbing discovery.
