Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple-Richness of Royal Legacy..
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the most celebrated and legendary Temple in Kerala's state capital Thiruvananthapuram, is nowadays constantly hitting the headlines of national & international newspapers & media alike on account of the vast treasures discovered in its secret chambers. As countless debates continue about the treasure values (estimated to be in many billion-dollars) and the temple being the richest in not only India but all over the world, an insight into this sacred shrine's flashback unearths the time-tested unshaken bond between a bygone royal dynasty and their state shrine.
Looking Back…
Regarded as one among the holiest 108 Vaishnava Thirupathis (sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu) in India, the exact age of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is still debated. This temple is mentioned in several ancient Hindu 'puranas' (epics) though officially recorded facts dated back to 7th / 8th centuries. Legends states, Anantha Padmanabha – the deity of this Temple – was originally at the Anantha Padmanabha Lake Temple in Kasargod district, North Kerala. A tryst with an ardent devotee, Sage Vilwamangalam, saw the Lord shifting his base to the Southern zone.
The present Temple was built in the forested land Ananthan-kadu. In due course of time the city was known by the Temple's name – 'Thiru Anantha Puram' meaning the 'Land of Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy'. It was the chief shrine of then-dynasty Aayi Kings, predecessors of Venad Kings. Before the Venad rulers gained foothold the Temple was under 'Ettera-yogam' – Association of Ettu Veettil Pillamaar, a powerful group of 8 feudal lords that held sway over Venad in 15th – 16th centuries. With the local feudal lords at one end and emerging European trading powers at the other, the domestic situation was in turmoil and it was left over to Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma the then-crown-prince to bring the situation under control. His accession to the throne was an eventful chapter in Kerala History which saw the annihilation of feudal powers and checking of colonial traders' advances in the South.
Widely considered as the valiant & powerful King of his generation, Marthanda Varma had high regards for Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. During his reign (1729-58) he conquered neighboring provinces and turned the tiny Venad into a powerful Kingdom of Travancore. After firmly establishing his Kingdom, Marthanda Varma reconstructed & enlarged Padmanabhaswamy Temple and, performed the exemplary act of 'Thrippadi danam' – dedicating his Kingdom & wealth to the Lord and rule on behalf of the Lord's will – to Sree Padmanabha in 1750 AD. Thereafter, Travancore Kingdom was regarded as the sole property of Lord Padmanabhaswamy and the King became Padmanabha-dasa alias 'In service of Lord Sree Padmanabha'.
Marthanda Varma and his succeeding Travancore Kings considered their assets as offerings to Lord Padmanabha. Even the small kingdoms under Travancore considered the Lord as their master and offered their valuables to the Temple as tokens of devotion & regards. Apart from the Travancore Kings, who wholeheartedly bestowed so many priceless assets (gold, silver, diamonds …) to their State Temple, several Royals from different parts of India and foreign rulers too, donated countless invaluable souvenirs to Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The reigning King(s) safely guarded the Temple's treasures and ruled without eyeing their dizzy value, as they considered it as God's own property for which it's their duty to protect. In fact, as they treated themselves as the servants of the Lord, Travancore Kings never wore a Crown (except for a brief time during their swearing-in ceremony). Such was the Travancore Royal clan's bonding with Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Even old testimonies state, the Kings served their people without making use of any Temple's treasures and even without imposing unnecessary taxes – a sharp contrast to the present governing system of Kerala where the word 'corruption' is more like a brand name!
The rituals and customs introduced by King Marthanda Varma were voluntarily followed by all the successors to the throne of Travancore… until the Kings lost their authority with the formation of Independent India in 1947. However the last reigning King of Travancore Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma continued his duties & services to the Temple, strictly in accordance with earlier customs, till his death and now the Temple administration is handled by the present head of the royal clan, Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma.
Temple Specialties…
The royal legacy of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple cannot be complete without mentioning its unique features. The Temple architecture itself is one-of-a-kind. Distinctly different from traditional Kerala architectural style, Padmanabhaswamy Temple showcases a nice blend of Dravidian-Kerala structural combination, which can be found nowhere else in the state.
The Temple complex is flanked by 'Padma Theertham' (means, Lotus Pond), a sacred pond which is considered as old as the Temple itself. On the north-east side of the pond, lies a cave inside which a small Lord Shiva Temple is located. The most interesting feature of this pond is a raised stone at its center, which is believed to bear the footmarks of Lord Vishnu (Sree Padmanabhaswamy). Devotees cleanse themselves in Padma Theertham before proceeding for Temple worship. Also they feed the fishes in this pond as a mark of devotion.
Inside the Temple complex, what stand amongst the numerous sculptural beauties are the 'the Bali Peeda Mandapam' and 'Mukha Mandapam', two artistically sculptured halls dating back to the era of King Marthanda Varma. Another notable feature here is the 'Navagraha Mandapa', where the ceiling displays the Navagrahas (Nine Planets, which according to Hindu philosophy signifies different stages in human life) – something rarely seen typical Kerala Temples.
The chief deity, Lord Anatha Padmanabha (Lord Vishnu in a reclining position on the Serpant Anantha), is consecrated in a unique way. The 18 feet long idol is built with 10,008 precious saligram stones, and can be viewed through three doors – Lord's head and his right hand, hanging over the Shivalingam, thro' first door, the middle portion with Lord Brahma seated on a lotus (which comes from the navel of Lord Vishnu) thro' the second door and, Lord's feet thro' the third door.
As with the ancient legendary Temples around the world, Padmanabhaswamy Temple too has got its own share of distinct murals and wood-works. For the people who throng to the Temple at all times, it's a feast for eyes as well as mind.
With the recent discovery of Padmanabhaswamy Temple's immense treasure trove led to a new twist over the Temple affairs. The legal battles for Temple management go on and people continue to ponder over the fate of the treasure… Whatever be the outcome; staunch devotees are certain that Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy continues to grace his subjects and Thriuvananthapuram (and Kerala) will remain forever as the 'Land of Sree Padmanabhaswamy', to be precise the 'God's Own Country
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