Fun facts related to Padmanabhaswamy Temple and its treasuryHistory of Padmanabhaswamy Temple
1. No clear information is available about when the Padmanabhaswamy Temple was first built. However, this place is mentioned in many Puranas including Mahabharata. The first mention of the temple is found in the texts of the 9th century.
2. The structure of the temple is constantly improving, the present Padmanabhaswamy temple was built in 1733 AD by the then King Martand Varma.
3. King Martand Verma donated all his wealth to the temple and ruled himself out by declaring himself to be the representative of God. Even today, the temple is run by a private trust under the care of the royal family of King Martand.
Important information related to the temple
4. There is a huge statue of Lord Vishnu inside the temple in which Lord Vishnu sits in a sleeping posture on Sheshnag. Millions of devotees come from far and wide to visit this idol.
5. Here the resting state of Lord Vishnu is called ‘Padmanabha’, on which this temple was named.
6. The temple is just a kilometer from the railway station of Thiruvananthapuram. On one side of the temple is the sea shore and on the other side the beautiful hills of the Western Ghats.
7. Only Hindus can enter the Padmanabhaswamy temple, irrespective of their caste.
8. To enter the temple, it is mandatory for men to wear dhoti and women to wear saree.
Treasury of Padmanabhaswamy Temple
9. In the year 2011, when 5 of the 6 cellars of the temple were opened, about two lakh crores of assets were received from them in the form of gold and silver.
Some of the main items received are as follows-
➡ Three and a half feet long gold statue of Lord Vishnu on which many diamonds, jewels and precious stones are studded.
सिंहासन A throne made of pure gold which was probably built to keep a five and a half meter statue of Lord Vishnu in a sleeping state. Many diamonds and jewels are inlaid on it.
➡ A gold necklace 18 feet long weighing 10 and a half kilos.
➡ 36 kg weight gold screen.
➡ 2200 years old gold coins whose total weight is up to 800 kg.
➡ Thousands of gold and silver utensils.
सिक्के British gold coins weighing 20 kg.
➡ Many such precious vessels filled with diamonds, jewels and precious stones.
➡ Thousands of gold and silver ornaments.
10. The sixth cellar of the Padmanabhaswamy temple has not been opened yet and the Supreme Court has also banned its opening. It is said that this cellar has more wealth than the rest of the cellar and its cave goes to the sea coast.
11. You will be surprised to know that there is no latch nor bolt in the sixth cellar. It is said that a perfect man of the 16th century, a yogi, an ascetic, can open this gate with a pure pronunciation of 'Garuda Mantra'.
12. There is a picture of snakes on the sixth cellar gate indicating that they are protecting the cellar. Some people also say that this also means that something inauspicious can happen by opening this cellar.