Secret temple vault in Chennai; Kerala-like treasure awaits?

With the massive riches emerging from the secret cellars at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala stunning all, there are reports that there could be more such temples in the country that could hold treasure troves of past riches. One such temple is the Chandrasekara Swamy temple in Chennai that is believed to hold some eye-popping treasures.

This temple in Chennai which is close to 1200 years old is located near New Gummidipoondi and is likely to steal the thunder from the Padmanabhaswamy temple in God's own country, Kerala.

Rumours were doing the rounds of the existence of a secret chamber that holds treasures from the bygone years. The matter has raised the curiosity of devotees and temple authorities. After this, the officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department have decided to open the six-foot wide, 15-foot-long secret tunnel that is believed to have the stunning treasures. The HR&CE controls the temple. The vault is most likely to be opened on Nov 16.

The temple is an architectural and historic marvel dating back to centuries. It also has stone inscriptions from long back as 1033 A.D and has the shrines of Lord Shiva and Ambal Deivanayagi, as well as Vinayaka, and Muruga with both his consorts. The temple has some examples of classic craftsmanship from the Pandya and Chola architectural styles.

On the possible treasure trove, Assistant commissioner at the HR&CE department, Padmanabhan said, "The suspicion arose when the renovation work in view of the temple"s kumbhabhishekam, slated for December 1, was taken up at the temple." A retired official Chinnarajan came across the stone room near the Murugan shrine and intimated the matter to the Tahsildar who later alerted the HR&CE officials.

Another Padmanabha temple-like treasure trove in Kerala?

Thrissur (Kerala), Dec 20: With the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala revealing some stunning riches of the past to the tune of anestimated Rs 1 lakh crore, there are reports that yet another temple exists in God's own country that holds a treasure trove.

The temple in focus is the four-century old Lord Vilwadrinatha temple at Thiruvillamala in Thrissur district. Police officials have revealed that security has been strengthened after reports came out of a treasure trove within the temple.

It has also been reported that the District Superintendent of Police, Debeshkumar Bahara paid a visit to the temple to review the security at the temple. According to sources within the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) that manages the affairs of the temple, a vigilance official of the CDB also inspected the security arrangements after news of the treasure came out. [Read: Padmanabha temple assets actually worth Rs 5 lakh crore?]

With this sort of news gaining intense media attention and within the general public, the CDB intends to deploy more personnel to secure the temple. The Board currently controls more than 400 temples in the districts of Ernankulam, Palakkad and Thrissur.

With the secret vaults in Padmanabha temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala leading to some stunning revelations, the matter was taken up by the court and an empowered committee which was given the job of analyzing and valuing the antique valuables and riches that emerged from the secret underground vaults.

Lord of the riches: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

New Delhi: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the most famous Lord Vishnu temples of Kerala - God’s own country. The discovery of mind boggling treasure at the Padmanabha Temple has catapulted its fame to India’s richest temple.

The main temple deity, Sree Padmanabhaswamy, is a form of Vishnu in Anananthasayanam posture or in eternal sleep and so it is also known as Sree Ananda Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

The legend has it say that Padmanabhaswamy was worshipped by Chandra (Moon God) and Lord Indra (the head of the Devas).

The state capital Thiruvananthapuram, which gains its fame from the temple, is also named after the Lord. The word ‘Thiruvananthapuram’ literally means, ‘the land of Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy’.

Unclear past

Though the exact date on which the temple was consecrated is unknown, there are official records dating back to 910 AD.

“There are records indicating offerings made by Raja Raja Cholan and Krishna Devaraya of the Vijayanagaram Empire,” says R Ramachandran Nair, former chief secretary Kerala.

According to the historians, the foundation of the famed temple was first laid in the year 1556. Later, the temple was re-built under the instruction of the then king Marthanda Varma (1706–1758) in the first half of the 18th century.

The Royal connection

The temple has been maintained by the royal family of Travancore whose headquarters are situated near the residence of the Kerala governor.

All Maharajas who ruled Travancore were known as Padmanabha Daasa (vassals of Lord Padmanabha). Members of the erstwhile royal family had dedicated their kingdom to the deity and pledged that they will live as servants of Padmanabha.

The Shrine is run by a trust floated by the Travnacore royal house.

“This is a custom which dates back to 1750. On January 17, 1750, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the then Maharaja, along with members of the royal family and his ministers proceeded to the Temple and he laid the state sword before the deity handing over the territory of Travancore to Sree Padmanabha. Ever since the people of Travancore have regarded the State as Sree Padmanabha’s possession and the king as his servant,” said Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma.

It has historically been a royal temple, but offerings to the Lord Vishnu, in the form of gold and jewellery, have come not just from Travancore kings and other Kerala royalty but millions of ordinary devotees.

Marvelous architecture

The temple has a 100-foot, seven-tier ‘gopuram’ or temple tower besides a corridor with 365 and one-quarter granite stone pillars with elaborate carvings.

There are a total of six vaults marked from A to F. Two of these haven't been opened since 1872 and were rumored to contain valuables worth crores. The C, D and E cellars were opened and their inventory was prepared recently.While four of the temple chambers are opened during special occasions, Chamber A and B remained unopened for over 150 years.

Idol’s importance

The idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is made up of 12008 salagramams that compose the reclining lord. They are special because they are from Nepal, from the banks of river Gandhaki and they were brought to the temple with all pomp and gaiety on elephant top.

On top of them "Katusarkara Yogam", Navaratnams, a special Ayurvedic mix, was used to give a plaster. Followers believe that the Lord has personally come in disguise and had saved many times the Travancore Kingdom from the clutches of enemies.

(With inputs from Agencies, Padmanabhaswamytemple.com)

Priests warn against opening Kerala temple's vault

By Indo Asian News Service | IANS – Thu, Aug 11, 2011

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (IANS) A group of priests who conducted an astrological examination or 'devaprasnam' at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here has concluded that family members of those who open its yet untouched vault B would die, said an expert Thursday. They also warned against videography of the treasure discovered so far.

Speaking to reporters late night after the conclusion of the four-day 'devaprasnam', lead priest K. Padmanabha Sharma said that no videography of the temple's unearthed treasure trove should take place.

'Of the treasure troves that are in the temple, vault B should not be opened and of the remaining five vaults, there should be no valuation done, besides there should be no exhibition of the treasure that has been found,' said Sharma.

The temple, among the richest in the world, has six vaults. Five of these were opened on the orders of the Supreme Court and a treasure trove estimated to be more than Rs.1 lakh crore was discovered.

Vault B was not touched by a committee that was appointed by the court for stock taking of the temple's treasures last month.

The astrological examination that began at the temple Monday involved discussions among the members of the team headed by Mathur Narayanan Renga Bhatt, an expert in conducting rituals.

The discussions, held in the open, concluded that it would be best that vault B was left unopened because it was believed that it could only be opened by 'God'.

The experts concluded that if anyone opened the vault, one of his family members may die either due to a snake bite or consumption of poison.

Stocktaking of the temple's treasure started after T.P. Sunderarajan, a former Indian Police Service officer, approached the apex court alleging mismanagement of temple affairs.

Sunderarajan, 70, died July 17.

The erstwhile royal family of Travancore oversees the functioning of this prestigious temple, through an executive committee.

Aditya Varma, scion of the erstwhile royal family, earlier said that the discussion and astrological examination related to vault B was done after receiving numerous letters from devotees and also from various Hindu organisations.

According to the records of the temple, on the main door of vault B a picture of a snake is etched and it signifies danger.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also reached the temple premises and remarked that the wealth of the temple was not just an asset alone but also related to faith.

'We all expect that the apex court, when it comes to deciding the opening of vault B, will take into consideration the feelings of the devotees,' said Chandy.

Another ‘golden’ day for temple

It was another ‘golden’ day for the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple on Thursday.

This was not about the jewellery in its vaults but about the rich golden rice stalks grown in the eastern corner of the sprawling Putharikkandam Maidan, once the temple’s and the royal family’s source of rice.

This was for the first time in more than half-a-century that rice harvested from the Putharikkandam Maidan was offered to the temple during ‘Niraputhari’ festival.

Mayor K. Chandrika, in a symbolic gesture, handed over the harvest reaped from the 20 cents in the Maidan to Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the patriarch of the erstwhile Travancore Family.

Marthanda Varma offered the harvest to the Temple melshanthi who symbolically purified the stalks in the Padmatheertha Pond and offered it to the deity.

In olden times, the entire requirement of rice for the Kowdiar royal family and the temple were met from Putharikkandam.

Development rendered the land fallow. Last year, the City Corporation started cultivation in 13 cents along the far eastern corner of the grounds. This year, the area has swelled to 20 cents.

Don't move out Padmanabha temple wealth: Astrologers' panel

The ‘Deva Prasnam’(ritual to gauge the will of the deity) at Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple here, being conducted to ascertain the divine will through astrology, has found that the huge riches found in the shrine's vaults should not be moved out or alienated.

Taking the huge treasures out of the temple complex would lead to an ominous fallout and even affect the sanctity of the shrine itself, Madhur Ranga Bhat, who heads the panel of astrologers, told reporters here this evening.

The exercise also cautioned against opening one of the yet to be examined vaults as it is below the sanctum sanctorum, where the idol of Lord Vishnu in reclining posture stands, Bhat said.

The 'deva prasnam' found there had been serious lapses in the conduct of rituals and customs of the temple, which could affect even the nation, the astrologer said.

These aspects would be further examined on the concluding day of the ritual on Wednesday and the panel would summarise the findings and prescribe ‘pariharakriyas’ (resolutions), the rituals to be performed to overcome the shortcomings, he said. The ritual was conducted at the ‘natakasala’ building at the eastern street of the temple.

Meanwhile, the five-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court to scientifically evaluate the treasures found in the vaults is scheduled to meet here on Wednesday to discuss on how to proceed on the task entrusted with it.

The committee, headed by Director of National Musueum C V Ananda Bose, had an initial meeting here last last week.

Bad omens at Padmanabha temple puja before 'devaprasnam'

The devaprasnam at the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple started off on an inauspicious note on Monday with the rashi puja held as its prelude indicating many bad omens.

The devaprasnam ritual is being held by the Travancore royal family, the custodian of the temple, to gauge what the deity feels about the recent happenings including the opening of the secret vaults by an expert panel which revealed immense wealth.

Sources said that the puja revealed that the devaprasnam was occurring in vrischika rashi (the moon sign related to the scorpion) and this itself was inauspicious.

Further, the astrologers who conducted the puja found that the nine planets were in a bad position. This had occurred because of past sins and wrong acts in the temple, they felt.

The seers suggested many acts of repentance including the Mahamrityunjaya Puja.

“Things are not going on well in the temple,” said Narayana Ranga Bhat, a senior astrologer who took part in the ritual. “We noticed many bad omens. The devotees have to take the initiative to ensure the welfare of the temple.”

Temple’s chief priest Tharanalloor Parameswaran Namboodiri is leading the devaprasnam that started at the nataka sala in the temple in the afternoon. It may continue for three or four days.

Fire Near Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple

A massive fire near padmanabha swamy temple thiruvanathapuram, kerala has created panic among the people as a short circuit in electricity had caused the fire. How ever the fire force managed to cease the fire on time. Read the exclusive report of the happening near padmanabha swamy temple,kerala.

On Sunday, 31st july 2011 around 8.30 pm, a deadly fire accident occured near the in famous sree padmanabha swamy temple thiruvanathapuram in kerala. According to media reports, the fire caused near the theerthapada mandapam due to a short circuit in elecrtrcity. As a reason of this accident, several handicraft shops near the temple were burnt to ashes. Around 12 fire fighters units rushed to the spot and could able to bring the fire under control. Dewasom minister of kerala, V.S Shiva Kumar said to the media that, the reason for the cause of the fire is being studied and the added that the government will soon install a fire fighting unit to safe guard the temple from accidents.

The padmanabha swamy temple brought world attention because of the immense wealth found inside hidden vaults in the temple. Around 1 lakh crore worth precious treasures were discovered from the temple. A team of members appointed by the supreme court wil visit the temple to make the real value of the temple along with taking photographs and videos of the discovered treasures. There had been a hot discussion for the past few weeks regarding the preservation of the treasure. Few days back sundararajan,the petitioner who filed the petition to open the vaults of the temple had died. Aanalysts who have a well knowledge of the temple says that, this incident is just a beginning of many dreadful calamities that the state would have to face in the coming days.

Royal vignettes: Travancore - Simplicity graces this House

Commercialism has taken a toll of the quality of life in Kerala, says Sri Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma. KAUSALYA SANTHANAM spoke to the head of the Travancore dynasty.

IT is seven in the morning and Sri Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma is on his way through the ancient corridors to offer worship at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Accompanied by a few close members of family and staff, he stands in silence and surrender before the Lord for a quarter of an hour, a practice followed without fail by his ancestors for the last 300 years. A day's lapse in attendance means paying a fine. But the rulers consider it worse punishment to skip a single day in offering their prayers, whether it is owing to ill-health or being away from the capital.

The temple and the Lord are the centre of existence for the Travancore royalty. "We are rulers on His behalf," reverently says Sri Marthanda Varma, 80-year-old head of the Travancore House. "I live because of His grace."

Simplicity is the theme of this dynastic house — be it attire, habits and lifestyle — inspite of being very wealthy and figuring among the most important royal houses in the country. When I visit Thiruvananthapuram, the annual festival of music is on at the Navarathri Mandapam in the Kudira Maliga palace constructed by the prince composer Swati Tirunal in the 1800s. Gazing at the goldenvimana of the Padmanabhaswamy temple, Swati Tirunal composed wonderful kirthanas in praise of the Lord. The magnificent wooden structure derives its name from the hundreds of carved horses in mid-gallop adorning its roof all around.

Everything in this former royal house is done in subdued style. There are just a couple of temple priests and an official of the palace staff waiting for Sri Marthanda Varma and his family members to arrive for the concert. In the light drizzle, his niece, Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, followed by her husband and son, and then her mother, Princess Lakshmi Bayi, make their way to the mandapam.

The princess, the elder sister of Sri Marthanda Varma, is met with great respect for this is a dynasty that believes in matrilineal succession. The son of the ruler's sister has ascended the throne for generations to ensure the purity of the line. After the recital and prayers, the family members sit on the ground while the meal is served on plaintain leaves.

"When we have guests, my wife and I serve them sometimes," says Sri Marthanda Varma when you meet him at the modest Pattom palace the next day. "In fact, a mediaperson from Germany who probably expected me to dress in fine clothes, once mistook me for my secretary," he chuckles.

Sri Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma

"From the age of eight, I have grown up in an atmosphere pervaded by religion. The State was surrendered to Lord Padmanabhaswamy in 1750 by my ancestor whose name I bear. Nothing is greater than this concept and since that day, every morning, the ruler has the tradition of rendering an account of the previous day's administrative events to the lord. Whether I can communicate this attachment and devotion to others — the younger people in the family — is what worries me. Are they in attendance at the right time at the temple? This alone bothers me."

In 1971, he says, Yashwant Rao Chavan declared that as "we are an egalitarian State, you (royalty) should go." The privy purses were abolished and the family lost Rs. 18 lakhs every year. Krishna Menon offered the head of the family a choice — "to either keep this temple or else become president of a thousand other temples. ExceptPallivetta (the royal ritualistic hunt of the deities) and the Arat, when the deity is taken in procession to the seashore, we lost all other privileges. We sold our personal assets to keep this temple," he says passionately.

He is unhappy that colonisation took away the core of all that makes a region unique. "Many now can't speak their regional language for more than a few minutes for they don't know it well enough.

"Travancore was such a well knit State. It had the potential to be like Switzerland, for it had an enterprising people. Vast numbers of skilled, educated persons have migrated," he says with regret. "Consumerism and commercialism have taken a heavy toll of the quality of life, and the simplicity of the people which made the State so beautiful is now gone. Kerala, once a land of pristine white, is now full of garish colour. Onam today seems to mean only shopping. Simple truths are being forgotten. King Mahabali's was an act of extreme surrender. According to legend, he was very handsome, but he is being depicted as ugly. Rakshasas are now associated with ugliness though this is not so if you know the puranas."

Sri Marthanda Varma is respected for his erudition. A graduate of the Travancore University, he is known for his deep interest and knowledge in the areas of religion, philosophy and medicine. (The first from a princely family to graduate in India was Marthanda Varma Aswathi Tirunal in 1891 from the Madras University.) An expert photographer, Sri Marthanda Varma's work is now displayed at the Kudirai Maligai which has been converted into a museum housing a number of portraits and artefacts of the dynasty. "My brother gave me my first camera, a Roliflex, in 1934 and I still have it," he says.

In the outside world, the royalty evokes mixed reactions. While old timers continue to have a fondness and respect for the royals, socialists and the young look upon them as an outdated institution. But the family members say they run a number of trusts to help the cause of education, health and developmental activities.

Princes Aswathi Tirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi

When he talks of his late brother, tears spring to his eyes. "Sri Chithira Tirunal Maharaja was a visionary. Gandhiji came here after the Temple Entry Proclamation was made by my brother, throwing open the temples to all the castes. The Mahatma said it was not a trip but a pilgrimage. The carpet on which he sat is now a prized possession of the family."

Sri Marthanda Varma, who is married to Radha Devi, has a daughter, Parvathy Devi, and a son, Sri Padmanabha Varma. He is proud of the matrilineal system. "I am what I am because I was the son of a princess. Women have always been very educated and progressive in my family." He narrates an amusing incident with relish. After Eleanor Roosevelt returned to America from a trip to Travancore, she wrote, "I went to a State at the extreme tip of India. Here the king's son is not the king, but the king's sister is a very important person. Anyway, it is very good for the women."

The State had a secular tradition and till Independence, Christmas carols were sung outside the palace every year. "Now it is all divide and rule," he says sadly.

Sri Marthanda Varma's spirits rise magically at the mention of Sri Padmanabhaswamy and the Arat festival in which, sword in hand he walks barefoot accompanying the procession carrying the image of the Lord.

"I have the PM's knee because of the wearing off of the cartilage. Even after a knee operation a few years ago, I was able to walk the distance after taking local anaesthesia. For I'm the servant of the Lord who is as effulgent as a thousand suns," says this descendant of an ancient line who prides himself, like his ancestors, on the appellation "Padmanabhadasa" above all else.

Ancient line

THE founding members of the Travancore royal family are said to have come to this southern tip from the banks of the Narmada. Legend has it that Lord Parasurama himself crowned the first ruler. Historically, the line can be traced to 820 A.D. Keralam ("Cheralam") in ancient times was under the influence of Tamil culture. According to historian Anees Jung, the most ancient royal families of the country are the Houses of Udaipur and Travancore.

The passion for the arts that made Swati Tirunal and Ravi Varma immortal was to be seen in many of the other rulers too. And the lovely murals and the beautiful palaces in wood in the typical Kerala style stand witness to their eye for aesthetics and feel for space.

* * *

The abode

GIFTED to Maharani Sethu Parvathy Bayi by Sri Moolam Tirunal in 1915, the Kaudiar palace, an impressive structure, was the residence of Sri Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma, the last ruler of Travancore State. It is now the residence of the heirs of the family. The princess, and her two daughters, Gouri Parvathy Bayi and Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, live here with their spouses and children.

Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi clad in the typical white mundu and a flaming orange blouse exudes charm and graciousness as she welcomes you.

Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, a graduate in economics, is the author of five books including a detailed study of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple. She has just completed writing the text of a "super deluxe edition", of artist Ravi Varma, who was "my great grandmother's father".

"We have no regrets," she says in a brief interview the previous evening sitting on the stone steps of the Navarathri Mandapam. "We have a very good bond with the people. Maharaja Chithira Tirunal taught us that politics is a fickle mistress. We follow old customs and set great store by them. We still can't come to terms with Sri Chithira Thirunal's death. When he died, Travancore mourned."

Learned and talented, Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi symbolises the spirit of the women of the family. Her liberal attitude is evident in that she has encouraged her daughter-in-law, Gopika Varma, a trained Mohiniyattam dancer, to give performances. "If somebody has a talent for art, you should not stifle it. My sister's son, Rama Varma, is a singer and we are proud of him."

After treasures, tales tumble out of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple

After treasures, tales tumble out of Sree Padmanabha Swamy templeTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hooded King Cobras with forked tongues, recoiled and ready to strike at lightning speed, inestimable wealth buried in the pond adjoining the temple, underground tunnels that criss-cross Thiruvananthapuram city and connect the temple and the city to the sea, and vaults that spell generations of disaster for anyone who dares open them.

After a week of making an inventory of the immense wealth of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple here, what is now tumbling out are tales of yore, some improbable, others seemingly within the realms of the possible, and yet others a compliment to the stretch of human imagination.

A temple priest has triggered a fresh bout of excitement with a statement that much more treasure may be lying in the pond in front of the temple, a newspaper has re-published reports about the temple's vault being opened in 1931, and some warn that opening the last remaining vault, marked 'B', could invite either a rush of sea water into the city through underground passages that link the temple and the city to the sea, or bring divine wrath for breaking long-standing tradition.

Speculation about the vaults and their surroundings being infested with deadly cobras have the backing of newspaper reportage, with a news item in the 1930s quoting writer Emily Gilchrist Hatch as stating that a group of people who tried to open the vaults in 1908 "fled for their lives" when they found the place infested with cobras.

Whether the King Cobra ( Ophiophagus Hannah )) can survive in such vaults is another matter altogether. "Cobras can never be present in those vaults. There is neither enough oxygen to survive there, nor is there any food for them because even rats and other rodents will not be able to stay alive in such conditions", says B Suresh, celebrated snake-catcher of Thiruvananthapuram who goes by the name 'Vava' Suresh.

Suresh, a Guinness Book-aspirant after claiming to have caught more than 26,000 snakes over more than 25 years and works for the cause of snakes, told ET that cobras guarding temple treasure was more a matter of faith than anything else. "Perhaps the only snake that could hang around such an ambience is the wool snake that goes by the name 'Churutti' in local parlance", says he.

Speculation that the temple pond would have a cache of ornaments and precious metal is supported by the theory that the Travancore kings may have wanted to keep the temple's wealth safe from Tippu, and later from the British.

A decision on opening the last of the six secret vaults at the temple is pending. The tough array of ancient doors has posed a major challenge for the committee appointed by the Supreme Court, to gain entry into it. The vault has apparently been untouched for well over a century, and may just hold a twist in the tale of the temple that has already revealed a trillion rupees worth of treasures in its cellars.

SREE ANANTHA PADBHANABHA TEMPLE SECRET CHAMBER TRIED TO OPEN IN 1931???

Emily Gilchrist Hatch as stating that a group of people opened the vault in 1931. The article is published in Andhra Jyothi Telugu news paper.

'Rs 5 lakh crore treasure belongs to Lord Padmanabha'

The treasure estimated to be worth Rs 200,000 crore found in secret chambers at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram belongs to Lord Padmanabha and nobody including the government has any right to them, according to senior bureaucrats, eminent historians and spiritual leaders.

“All precious stones, ornaments and other materials found in the chambers opened as per the directive of the Supreme Court are well documented. Each and every material has been accounted for and there is no confusion about the ownership. They all belong to Lord Padmanabha, the deity of the Travancore Royal Family,” Prof MGS Narayanan, eminent historian and former chairman of the Indian Council for Historical Research told DNA.

R Ramachandran Nair, former chief secretary, Kerala, who played a major role in integrating the thousands of hectares of land owned by the Travancore Royal family into the revenue department of the state said that treasures are the exclusive property of the temple and no one has any right over them. He said offerings have been made to the temple by kings and traders from Portugal, the Netherlands, Great Britain and the Far East.

According to C P Nair, another former chief secretary, the market value of the treasures could cross Rs 5 lakh crore mark making Padmanabha Swamy temple the richest temple in the world. “I suggest the security of the temple better be handed over to army commandos,” he said.

Members of the Travancore Royal Family, who have an umbilical cord relationship with the temple, have kept a low profile on the findings. More than the value of the treasures unearthed, what is unique is the strange ties the royal family has with Lord Padmanabha.

“The Travancore Maharaja begins his day by worshipping at the temple. If he cannot make it to the temple, he has to pay a fine,” Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, the neice of Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the present title holder of the erstwhile Travancore state, told DNA.

The princess said it was not proper to describe the findings in the chambers as treasure. “It is offerings made by the Lord’s devotees and hence it is His wealth. They are not treasures,” she said.

The princess starts her public speeches by reciting hymns in praise of Lord Padmanabha composed by her great uncle, former Maharaja Swathi Thirunal.

Though the Maharaja and the princess refused to comment about the opening of the chambers, a member of the royal family said they were all sad and disappointed over the action by some devotees who dragged the issue to court.

“Some of the devotees have taken on rent the temple premises and they pay only meager amount like Rs 25 per month for a shop and Rs 300 for a marriage hall which charges Rs 35,000 per marriage . When we asked them to revise the rent according o prevailing market rates they ganged up against the palace and went to court. The Travancore Royal Family has not taken a single paisa from the temple even when the State was under severe financial crisis,” said a princess who too did not want her name to be quoted.

All Maharajas who ruled Travancore were known as Padmanabha Daasa (vassals of Lord Padmanabha). “This is a custom which dates back to 1750. On January 17, 1750, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the then Maharaja, along with members of the royal family and his ministers proceeded to the Temple and he laid the state sword before the deity handing over the territory of Travancore to Sree Padmanabha. Ever since the people of Travancore have regarded the State as Sree Padmanabha’s possession and the king as his servant,” said Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma.

Though the exact date on which the temple was consecrated is not known, there are official records dating back to 910 AD.

“There are records indicating offerings made by Raja Raja Cholan and Krishna Devaraya of the Vijayanagaram Empire,” said Ramachandran Nair.

Prof Narayanan said the Mathilakam Documents preserved in the temple premises show that the entire wealth kept in the chambers were offerings received from various dignitaries and royal families from all over the globe.

“Munroe, a governor of the British province made an offering in the form of a golden umbrella,” said Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi.

CP Nair who has studied all the legal records of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple pointed out that the covenantworked out by Sir C P Ramaswamy Aiyer, the then Constitutional Advisor to the Maharaja has made it clear that the Temple belongs to the TravancoreRoyal Family.

“The Maharaja is the Trustee of the temple and hence the official custodian of the wealth. The royal family has not touched a single paise from these offerings. Neither the government nor the politicians can interfere with these offerings in any manner,” said Nair.

He also said that the 1971 abolition of privy purse enjoyed by former rulers has nothing to do with the Temple.

Both CP Nair and Ramachabndran Nair were of the view that the collection of offerings found in the chambers were the first of its kind in the world. “We can have some kind of exclusive Heritage Museumwhere these offerings could be displayed for the public to see. It can never be used for any other commercial or social projects,” they said.

What is unique about the Padmanabha Swamy Temple which has a distinct Dravidian architecture is the nearby Arya Samaj office where non-Hindus can get converted to Hinduism by paying a nominal amount of Rs 50 so that they too could worship in the temple. A modern strategy to circumvent the age-old rule that only Hindus could worship inside this temple!

Aarattu, the annual festival of Padmanabha Swamy Temple, itself is a pointer to the official status enjoyed by the temple and the Royal family. The head of the Travancore Royal family leads the ceremonial procession and he is accompanied by members of the police. It is Thiruvananthapuram’s official festival.

Interestingly, the Marxists and intellectuals owing allegiance to them have demanded that the entire treasure be distributed among the poor in the country.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple: All eyes on 6th chamber, vault 'B' to open today

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple: All eyes on 6th chamber, vault 'B' to open today

Thiruvananthapuram: Will the last of six chambers of Kerala’s Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple add more riches to the eye popping treasure of India’s richest temple? Having made several headlines after discovery of awe-inspiring wealth, the last vault of the centuries-old temple is likely to be opened on Friday.

The seven-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court is likely to meet on Friday to decide on opening the the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple’s vault ‘B’.

The air of curiosity surrounds the sixth and last secret chamber of the temple, which is being claimed to contain even bigger treasure. Read:Kerala royals thrilled at treasure discovery in temple

Even before the unlocking of the last of six secret chambers, the vast collection of the mind boggling rubies, diamonds, precious stones, gold and silver jewellery recovered from its cellars was unofficially put to more than a whopping Rs 1 lakh crore (£12.6 bn). The eminent historians and spiritual leaders, however, estimated the market value of the treasure to be around Rs 5 lakh crore.

Chambers unopened for decades

Two of the six secret chambers were not opened for nearly 150 years. Although the shrine dates back to the 10th century, the present structure was built only in the 18th century after King Marthanda Varma expanded and consolidated the Travancore kingdom. Read:Who'll own Kerala temple's R 1 lakh cr treasure? SC to hear petition

The chambers containing the offerings remained locked at least since the 1930s, when the last inventory was reportedly carried out by Travancore's then rulers.

"There are six vaults, from A to F, and only Vault B is still to be opened," said a temple official. "This vault has special locks, and we don't want to break them. So we're getting experts to examine them, and we should be able to open them on Friday."

Key of last chamber missing?

While all eyes await for revelation of more treasure on Friday, uncertainty looms over opening of in the last chamber of Padmanabhswamy temple, as the key of the vault B, according to the sources, has been missing.

The temple authorities have been considering seeking help of traditional locksmiths to get the duplicate keys made, the royal family of Travancore, the traditional custodians of the temple have been apprehensive over the use of machinery to break open the vault. According to the royal family the hammering of the ancient vault could even shake the temple’s foundation.

Special security zone for temple

Creation of a special security zone around the famed temple is on the anvil to protect the huge piles of treasures found hid in its cellars.

The details of the plan had been drawn up by the police and submitted to the Government as a permanent security cover for the grand temple located in the heart of Kerala capital, Government sources said.

SC orders filming of Treasure hunt

The Supreme Court on Wednesday barred the seven-member committee entrusted with preparing upon inventory of the Padmanabhaswamy temple treasure from speaking to the press.

The Supreme Court directed the video-graphy of the unearthing process of treasure inside the temple.

The court proposed that a curator of a museum be appointed to preserve the treasure being unearthed from the temple.

Wealth revelation grabs global media

The discovery of the ancient treasure has not only made headlines at home, but has also sparked the invasion of global media to cover the ongoing treasure hunt in the famed temple of Thiruvananthpuram.

Leading international dailies and TV channels have sent their media representatives to cover the unearthing process of the temple’s wealth.

Treasure belongs to Lord Padmanabha

According to senior bureaucrats, eminent historians and spiritual leaders, the treasure of the country’s richest temple at Thiruvananthapuram belongs to Lord Padmanabha and nobody including the government has any right to them,

“All precious stones, ornaments and other materials found in the chambers opened as per the directive of the Supreme Court are well documented. Each and every material has been accounted for and there is no confusion about the ownership. They all belong to Lord Padmanabha, the deity of the Travancore Royal Family,” Prof MGS Narayanan, eminent historian and former chairman of the Indian Council for Historical Research said.

SC ordered exercise

The cellars of the temple, closed for several decades, were ordered to be opened by the Supreme Court to prepare inventory while considering a private petition recently.

It was only after the order of the Apex Court that a team of experts appointed by the Apex Court began the exercise last week, to uncover a vast hoard of gold idols, diamond and emerald-studded jewels and other precious stones with rubies and emeralds.

Treasure exclusive property of Royal family

The huge treasures found in Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram were the "exclusive property" of Travancore royal family that dedicated their kingdom to the presiding deity of the temple, Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi said.

"For long the erstwhile royal family was the custodian of the temple and they dedicted their kingdom to Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy. The treasures were offerings made by erstwhile rulers to the temple, hence the recoveries belonged to the royal family", he said.

The deity of Padmanabha Swami Temple is the family deity of Travancore royal family.

Legend halts operation

Moreover, the legends associated with the temple has also come into the way of the team carrying out the stocktaking at the Padmanabhaswamy temple.

A royal family source said many legends were attached to the temple and that chamber B has a model of a snake on the main door.

“This is a clear indication that the door should not be opened because opening it might be a bad omen. I don’t think the team can open it because there is a lot of faith attached to the temple,” said the source.

Another legend says that there is a tunnel at the bottom of the chamber that leads to the sea.

Kerala's famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple could be worth Rs 5 lakh crore

New Delhi: The valuables found in the secret cellars of Kerala's famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple could be worth Rs 5 lakh crore, believes former chief secretary of Kerala CP Nair.

As per a report, Thursday, the former bureaucrat claims that the estimated market value of the treasures unearthed from the temple makes it the richest temple in the world.

Separately, R Ramachandran Nair, another former chief secretary, told reporters that articles, ornaments and other precious stones recovered from the temple are its exclusive property and no one has any right over them.

“The Maharaja is the Trustee of the temple and hence the official custodian of the wealth. The royal family has not touched a single paisa from these offerings. Neither the government nor the politicians can interfere with these offerings in any manner,” Nair added.

Breaking its silence on the issue, the Kerala government has also declared that that the valuables belong to the temple and should be preserved there.

However, a final decision in this regard would be made by the Supreme Court, which had constituted a seven-member panel to prepare a detailed inventory of the articles, valuables and ornaments found from the temple's treasure trove. The SC-appointed panel includes two former high court judges.

Yesterday, the apex court had ordered the videography of the inventory and asked those involved in the exercise to desist from speaking to the media. So far, five out of the six secret cellars had been opened by the panel and the articles found from there have been duly enlisted.

The decision on opening the remaining cellar would be taken on Friday after further discussions, sources from the temple said.

However, members of the Travancore Royal Family have kept a low profile on the findings. More than the value of the treasures unearthed, what is interesting is the strange ties the Royal family shares with Lord Padmanabha and the temple.

All Maharajas who have ruled Travancore were known as Padmanabha Daasa (servants of Lord Padmanabha).

Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bai, the niece of Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the present title holder of the erstwhile Travancore State, said it was not proper to describe the findings in the chambers as treasure. “It is offerings made by the Lord’s devotees and hence it is his wealth. They are not treasures,” she said.

Though the exact date on which the temple was consecrated is not known, there are official records dating back to 910 AD.

“There are records indicating offerings made by Raja Raja Cholan and Krishna Devaraya of the Vijayanagaram Empire,” said Ramachandran Nair.

Interestingly, the Padmanabha Swamy temple, which has a distinct Dravidian architecture, stands near an Arya Samaj office, where non-Hindus can get converted to Hinduism by paying a nominal amount of Rs 50, so that they too can worship in the temple.

Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple's treasure

Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple's treasure

Who owns the temple riches?

Presiding deity Padmanabha Swamy. In 1750, Travancore ruler Marthanda Varma donated all the kingdom's wealth to the deity

How many vaults are there in the temple?

Over the last week, a seven-member team has opened up five of the six secret vaults. The last one is being investigated now. It has not been opened.

What is the worth of the treasure trove?

Treasure worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore found so far. This is more than Union education budget & state budgets.

Why the inventory check?

The search on the vaults was mounted after a lawyer petitioned the Supreme Court to order a government take over of the temple as it did not have enough security

Did the royals know of the temple riches?

The existence of the temple's staggering wealth was always known. The 1941 Pradhanapetta (important) Mathilakom Records compiled by Malayalam poet Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer mentions it. The 12-volume Kottaram (Palace) manual also talks of it. Records talk of sacred cellars from which treasure is now being dug out

Did the royals ever dip into the treasure trove?

Never. The royals call themselves Padmanabha Dasa (servants of Lord Padmanabha) and are pledge-bound never to take even a penny from the Lord's wealth. Royal family members who visit the shrine wipe off the sand from their feet when they leave the shrine. Family members don't take home even a speck of sand belonging to Padmanabha!

Who manages the shrine now?

Though Travancore merged with the Indian Union in 1949, the management of the temple remains with royal family

What were the boundaries of the erstwhile Travancore state?

It extended from Kanyakumari in present-day Tamil Nadu to Aluva (in Ernakulam) in the north. Padmanabhapuram (now in Tamil Nadu) was the first capital, but it was shifted to to Thiruvananthapuram subsequently