Tirumala: Sacred Foods of God

The ritual of offering food or Naivedyam to Lord Venkateshwara - a manifestation of Lord Vishnu - at the Tirumala Temple has existed since time immemorial, when Lord Vishnu decided to descend on Earth in the 'archa' form, or as an idol that can be worshipped. He commissioned Sage Vaikhanasa to prepare the ancient religious text Agama Shastra, which gives an elaborate description of the rituals to be conducted at the Tirumala Temple, the ingredients to be used to prepare prasadams, procedures for a priest to follow, precautions to be taken, and the Veda mantras to be recited at each step. With rare photographs and detailed step-by-step recipes, the book describes the various kinds of food offerings made, with specifications about the quantity, ingredients, preparation, variety of food, and particular times when they should be served. This sacred volume is a must-have for every Lord Venkateshwara devotee.