Rice & pongal

Tilannam / Ellannam

Also called Tilannam; Ellannam; sesame rice.

Historical

A sesame-rice nivedyam documented in the wider South Indian temple food tradition.

What goes into it

Rice
sesame
seasonings

How it is made

Cooked rice combined with sesame-based seasoning.

Exact temple kitchen formulae — the dittam — are not reproduced here unless the temple has published them. What is described is the culinary family, not a temple’s working recipe.

Where it is offered

This is a culinary family found widely across South Indian temple and household worship rather than one tied to a single temple in this reference. Its region is recorded as Tamil/Telugu temple traditions.

History and evidence

It appears in the historical and inscriptional record under the name Tilannam.

Earliest documentation: Historical.

This entry is historical. It is attested in the record but is not presented here as a current temple offering. Where an inscriptional term is a ritual service category rather than a single dish, the inscriptional terms list says so.

Dietary note

Recorded as Yes in the tradition described. Commonly present: Sesame.

This is informational, never a guarantee. Temple kitchens change formulations, use shared equipment and follow their own Āgamic rules. If an allergy matters to you, ask the temple directly.

Source

Primary reference for this entry · Documented · confidence High
https://www.academia.edu/120514244/Inscriptional_study_on_Pras%C4%81dam_at_the_Tirumala_Tirupati_Tem

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