Padmanabhaswamy Temple | Richest Hindu Place of Worship

India has a rich history and glory in temples constructed in ancient times. Kerala, located in southern peninsular India, is known for its divine spirit and faith. Every state in India seems to have a mysterious place to call its own.  There stands a tall temple in Kerala’s capital, the Mother of all super nature sites, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.

Thiruvananthapuram means “the city of Lord Ananta “referring to the deity of Padmanabhaswamy temple.

This gold-plated glory is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the principal centers of worship of the Vaishnava religion, Lord Vishnu’s followers.

Divya Desams are holy abodes of Lord Vishnu, and Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple worships the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu – Lord Padmanabha.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple
View of the temple

The temple was built in an intricate fusion of Kerala architecture and Kovil style, also known as the Tamil style featuring high walls and a gopuram.

Architecturally, the temple is a replica of the Adikesava Perumal temple located in Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari district.

The Supreme principal deity, Maha Vishnu, is enshrined in Anantha Shayanam’s posture. The yogic sleep on the serpent Adisheshan adds to the temple’s grandeur. 

The shrine is one of the most revered abodes of the Hindu deity because Maha Vishnu resides with a lotus attached by its stem to the Lord’s navel and the Lord’s right hand placed over a Shiva Linga.

Lord Brahma sits on a perfect flower.  The deity was made of 12,008 Saligramams, brought from the banks of the Gandaki River in Nepal.

Two consorts of Sri Vishnu, Sridevi Laxmi, the goddess of prosperity, and Bhudevi, the earth’s goddess, sighed in the sanctum.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy is a deity of the royal family of Travancore. 

Padmanabhaswamy Temple image

This abode of holiness is one of few temples in India where entry is permitted to only those who worship the Hindu faith

Devotees have to follow the dress code strictly. Padmanabhaswamy temple dress code is sarees, mundu set, half saree, skirt and blouse for women and gowns for young girls below 12.

Men are required to wear dhoti or mundu or go bare in the torso.  Dhotis are available for rent near the temple. However, these days, there is a bit of exemption to avoid inconvenience to devotees.

The underbelly of the temple is home to a mystery-ridden chamber with a majorly spooky history that leaves you awestruck by its magnanimous beauty. The divinity par excellence will surely stake your senses.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Kerala History

It was built in the 6th century AD and later modified after ten centuries by rulers of Travancore, who are believed to be descendants of Saint Kulasekara Alwar.

Ananta padmanabhaswamy temple
Image Credit: Ananta Padmanabhaswamy temple

Hindu mythologies like Brahma Purana, Matsya Purana, and Mahabharata mentioned the temple’s shrine, and in recorded Sangam literature, it has been referred to several times. 

Many historians believe that “the golden temple” comply that temple was unimaginably wealthy by that point. 

9th-century Sangam literature and poet-saints refer to the temple and city having golden walls. 

In some places, the entire town is eulogized as made of gold and the temple as heaven. The temple is glorified in Divya Prabandha.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Treasure

The temple and its assets belong to Lord Padmanabhaswamy and, for a long time, were controlled by a trust headed by the Travancore royal family, which the Supreme Court has divested of India

In 2011, retired IPS officer Sundarajan filed a petition in Supreme Court to take stock of the temple’s unknown treasure.

The Supreme Court appointed a committee of seven members to open the secret chambers to make an official record of it and reveal the Padmanabhaswamy temple secrets

The association discovered six hitherto known vaults or Kallaras labeled A, B, C, D, E and F. 

The doors were made of iron, which took the utmost toil to open the chambers, and what they reported was beyond human imagination.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple photos

Padmanabhaswamy temple secret doors had wealth more than the GDP of some countries. (3 and a half feet golden idol of Maha Vishnu, studded with hundreds of diamonds and other precious stones.  Tons of gold were also found).

While vault B, known as Bharatakkon Kallara, remains unopened. Vault B Padmanabhaswamy temple mystery is an accurate example of ‘some things cannot be solved.’

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Vault B

Vault B is believed to be deeply rooted. It is believed that Devas and sages devoted to Lord Balarama reside in Kallara B, worshipping the Lord.

A four-day “Asthamangala Devaprasnam” performed in August 2011 declared chamber B of Padmanabhaswamy temple a forbidden zone.

Lord Igra Narasimha of Thekkedom is said to be the protector of vault B.

yali pillars at entrance to Padmanabhaswamy temple Thiruvanthapuram
Image Credit: yali pillars at entrance to Padmanabhaswamy temple Thiruvanthapuram

Vedic scholars and priests believe any attempt to unlock the vault will bring misfortune.

The untimely death of Sundarajan strengthened the stated belief. The petitioner after a month, the doors were opened.

Another observer lost his mother as a curse.  In 1930, a gang of temple invaders tried to siphon off the treasure of vault B, but failed in the mission because numerous snakes came in their way.  

Chamber B is made impenetrable by Naga Paasam Mantra, which was used to lock the portals during King Marthanda Varma’s reign.

Only a high-caliber saint can remove Naga Paasam by correctly chanting Garuda Mantra.

Two antechambers are guarding the entrance of vault B. The final door is secured by humongous serpents, the deities enchanting female vampires, and other supernatural entities.

Padmanabhaswamy temple vault B snake indicates danger to whoever opens it. 

Around 100 years ago, when the area was grappling with a severe famine,  temple authorities tried to open the chamber buy heard the sound of gushing ocean waves from behind the door.

Since then, it has been believed that the chamber is connected to the Arabian Sea, and any further attempts will unleash catastrophe across the state. 

The mystery of Padmanabaswamy temple is yet to be revealed.

front view of the mandir

Last Door of Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The temple consists of six Vaults, from which one of the vaults is Vault B which cannot be opened by anyone but can be opened out with human-made things with Chanting’s presence.

The two vaults get opened on a daily routine, two others get opened after every six months, and the two left are found to be secret vaults from which vault b was opened on the sixth of December in 1931 with the help of a key used over the rusty locks.

During the opening, the Maharaja was himself present over the area.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Dress Code

Padmanabhaswamy Temple pics

The temple consists of the rules that should be followed strictly, and one of the rues is based on the dress code that Devotees should accompany.

As many devotees gather among themselves to have a glimpse of the deity.

So, people should not wear any pants or Salwars under the temple. Near the temple site, many shops provide clothes for rent, so people take clothes on lease and wear them during their visit.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Darshan Tickets

So, the Padmanabhaswamy temple is visited worldwide by people, but those who want to visit Archana have to take cards to visit it.

If people don’t want to visit the Archana, then tickets are not compulsory so if someone forces you to buy them, then don’t.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Timings

The temple stands in the place Thiruvananthapuram, which gets situated in Kerala.

The temple is divine and gets visited by many people worldwide, but it consists some conditions that should be followed, and then this temple can be freely visited.

People should visit the place with clear thoughts and a pure heart. This temple blesses you with many blessings and fulfills your wishes if they get made with a pure mind.

The time required to visit the entire temple is around two to three hours daily.

view of the mandir from the river

Morning hours

  • 3:30 am – 4:45 am (Nirmalya Darshanam)
  • 6:30 am – 7:00 am
  • 8:30 am – 10:00 am
  • 10:30 am – 11:00 am
  • 11:45 am – 12:00 am

Evening hours

  • 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm
  • 6:45 pm – 7:20 pm

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Richest Temple

It gets said that the temple is the wealthiest temple in the world, consisting of much treasure worshipped by people worldwide.

It was estimated that the Monument’s value ranges from around 1.2 lakh crore.

Also, it is found that it consists of a pure Throne made up of gold which gets embedded with lots of diamonds and many other stones which are very precious.

It is also recorded that at least three of Gold’s crowns are also present, consisting of diamonds and gems.

It was even reported that some pure Chairs of gold with thousands of gold pots and jars are located. So, it became the richest temple in the world.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Bangalore

It is found to be the cheapest way to reach the Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Bangalore.

People travel by taking a plane or bus, train, and Car. The method selection depends on the family condition they would prefer.

In the case of the flight, Air India Limited or Indigo Airlines are used to fly over the area every four hours.

Also, an alternative method is to prefer the red bus, which could get received in ten minutes. The tickets cost about 600 to 850 rupees, and the journey takes up to twelve hours.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Chennai

It also prefers four ways: plane, bus, car, or train, and it depends on the person they prefer.

It is also considered the cheapest way to visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

It takes thirteen hours for Redbus to visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the range of cost varies the same, around 850.

Also, the plane can be preferred, making the person visit very early.

view of the mandir from the river

Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Mumbai

The person can select bus, train, plane, or car to attend the Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Mumbai.

The time taken from Mumbai is comparatively more than Chennai and Bangalore. The bus traveling takes up about 1700 to 2400 rupees, and the journey is very long, 31 hours.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Hyderabad

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is 1240 km distant from Hyderabad, and also, traveling can get done with all the ways by train, car, bus, or plane.

Traveling by bus can take around 21 hours a day, and traveling cost range from 950 rupees.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple from Kanyakumari

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple can be visited from the Kanyakumari in three of its ways by train or taxi, or car.

The Indian Railways operates over the area about two times daily. The tickets cost around 110 to 950 rupees, and thus journey from Kanyakumari to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple takes approximately 2 hours and ten minutes. So, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is visited early from Kanyakumari.

Is Padmanabhaswamy Temple Under Devaswom Board

The Government of Kerala has also approved that the court is not going to mule the takeover of the temple Padmanabhaswamy which is considered under the Travancore Royal House.

The Government also states that on Monday, all following private petitions seek to take over the state of its grand temple with its entire individual jewels and movable properties.

The request has also soughed the restrained entering the inner chambers, consisting of all precious and rare jewels with gold vessels.

So, this was all about the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and kept you updated with reading!

FAQs

Who built Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Maharaja Marthanda Varma

For Padmanabhaswamy Temple online booking

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Read Also:

Ananthapura Lake Temple

Ashtavinayak Temples

Kamakhya Temple

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