SC Declines to Examine Plea on Indigenous Cow Milk at Tirupati Temple

Supreme Court rejects plea seeking exclusive use of indigenous cow milk at Tirupati temple, saying true devotion lies in compassion. Full legal details here.

🏛️ Supreme Court Declines Plea on Indigenous Milk Use at Tirupati Temple

On July 21, 2025, a bench of Justices M. M. Sundaresh and N. Kotiswar Singh refused to admit a petition filed by the Yuga Thulasi Foundation. The foundation sought a directive for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to use only indigenous cow milk—such as Gir, Sahiwal, or Ongole—in the rituals and bhog prasad of Lord Venkateswara. The Supreme Court termed the plea low-priority, emphasizing that “true love for God lies in serving fellow living beings,” not in breed distinctions

⚖️ Key Legal Observations

• The bench declined to issue any directive, stating that the subject falls outside its immediate concern and suggested approaching the appropriate High Court instead
• Justice Sundaresh commented, “A cow is a cow”, underscoring that dividing animals by breed reflects human bias, not divine intent. He added:

“There are much more important issues than this.”

• The bench noted that sincere worship stems from compassion, not from rigid adherence to ritualistic breed preference

🔍 What the Petition Claimed

• The foundation argued that the Agama Shastras—ancient Hindu scriptures—mandate using native cow milk.
• They cited a previous internal TTD resolution mandating indigenous milk.
• The petition sought enforcement of that resolution via Supreme Court directive

🏃 Outcome & Next Steps

• The petition was officially withdrawn with the Court’s permission, allowing the petitioner to seek redress in the High Court
• No directive was issued, and TTD’s current milk usage remains unaffected by this proceeding.

🐄 TTD’s Current Milk Supply & Cow Conservation Efforts

• A senior TTD official noted that over 3,000 indigenous breed cows—including Gir, Ongole, and Sahiwal—are being used for temple rituals.
• TTD’s SV Gosamrakshana Trust has raised over ₹250 crore by January 2024 to conserve rare breeds like Punganur.
• The trust also oversees go-shalas (cow-shelters) in Tirupati and Palamaner, emphasizing livestock welfare and traditional spiritual practices

🔔 Why This Case Matters

• It highlights tension between personal ritual preferences and the broader principles of Hindu worship.
• The Court’s decision reflects its stance on upholding sincerity over formality in religious practice.

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