Does Sri Venkateswara temple require a ‘goods’ status for its prasadam (temple offering) ?

The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini in Andhra Pradesh. It is by the Lord’s presidency over Venkatachala, that he has received the appellation, Venkateswara (Lord of the Venkata Hill). He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD),  the trust that administers the Sri Venkateswara has secured IPR protection for Tirupati laddu, the sacred food offered to the devotees. The Geographic Indication registration for ‘Tirupathi laddu’ under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 would help TTD ban others from making and marketing the ‘laddus’ under the same name.

Interestingly, TTD states in their GI application (at page 42 of the GI journal No. 28), that “these laddus are offered as prasadam only to the devotees who visit Tirumala and offer worship to Lord Venkateswara here and not to any one else. Therefore to get ‘Tirupathi laddu’ one has to visit the abode of the Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. The said laddus cannot be obtained by any other means in the world.”

Geographical Indication is a notice to the customer that the mentioned product (goods) comes from the specified geographical area.  Therefore, the legislative intent ofGeographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 is to ensure that the “producers” from the geographical region are benefited by the market sale of the product (goods) identified by the Geographical Indication, which also serves as a quality mark.

Of course, Tirupathi Laddu does not deserve a “goods” status, as it is not sold in the market. Hence it is not appropriate to register ‘Tirupathi laddu’ as a “goods” underGeographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. On the other hand, aGI tag on a temple prasadam is exemplary of commercialization of divine affairs.

GI application by TTD also mentiones (at page 58 of the GI journal No. 28) that  the cost of a small laddu is Rs.25 and a big laddu is Rs. 100 and that on an average, 70,000 devotees visit the temple every day. While there is no confusion as to the  motivation of the temple trust in seeking IPR, there remains a question – Who misled the temple trust to seek GI protection ? the GI authorities or GI activists ?