Bengaluru, Sept 23 (Reporter) In the wake of allegations regarding the use of animal fat in the famed Tirupati laddu prasadam, prominent Hindu seers from the Kudali Sringeri Peetha and Mantralaya Raghavendra Swamy Mutt on Monday came together in demanding greater autonomy for temples. Abhinava Shankara Bharati Swami of the Kudali Sringeri Peetha announced a three-day vow of silence and a fast, condemning the incident as a "treachery" against the Hindu community. He proposed three methods of penance for those who consumed the contaminated prasadam, asserting that the rituals do not require the presence of a priest. The seer attributed the incident to failures within the government machinery and criticised state control over temples, urging society to advocate for the reclamation of temple autonomy. In parallel, Subhudendra Swami, head of the Mantralaya Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, called for a comprehensive investigation into the adulteration claims and appropriate action against those responsible. He also demanded purification rituals at the Tirupati temple and announced plans to visit soon. "Temples and mutts in particular regions should be under the control of the locals. Prior to independence, the institutions were managed by disciples, devotees and local community leaders. After the laws of the modern world were implemented, these institutions came under government control," he noted. Both seers emphasised the need for accountability and the preservation of the sanctity of the revered religious sites, advocating a return to local management of temples, as was practised prior to India’s independence...////...