Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Kerala India

 
The inception of the Temple of Sree Padmanabhaswamy is lost in historic times.
 
It is unrealistic to decide with any exactitude, from any dependable authentic records or different sources in the matter of when and by whom the first icon of Sree Padmanabhaswamy was sanctified.
 
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has references in Epics and Puranas. Srimad Bhagavatha says that Balarama went to this Temple, showered in Padmatheertham and made a few offerings.
 
Nammalwar, ninth century artist and one among the 12 vaishnavite holy people of the Alvar convention, has formed ten songs in acclaim of Lord Padmanabha.
 
Some outstanding researchers, essayists and students of history, similar to the Late Dr. L.A.Ravi Varma of Travancore, have communicated the view that this Temple was built up on the main day of Kali Yuga (which is more than 5000 years prior). The legends of the Temple are passed on as the centuries progressed.
 
Situated inside the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the State of Kerala in India is the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple devoted to Lord Vishnu.
 
This temple is a mix of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of engineering.
 
The historical backdrop of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple goes back to eighth century. It is one of the 108 hallowed Vishnu temples or Divya Desams in India.
 
Divya Desams are the holiest habitations the Lord Vishnu that are said in progress of the Tamil Azhvars (holy people). The directing divinity of this temple is Lord Vishnu, leaning back on Anantha, the hooded Serpent.
 
Marthanda Varma, the prominent among Travancore lords did a noteworthy redesign to the temple and it brought about the present day structure of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.
 
It was Marthanda Varma who presented the Murajapam and Bhadra Deepam celebrations in the temple. Murajapam, which truly implies constant droning of petitions, is still directed in the temple once in six years.

 

In 1750, Marthanda Varma devoted the kingdom of Travancore to Lord Padmanabha. Marthanda Varma pledged that the regal family will administer the state for Lord and he and his relatives would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa or the Servant of Lord Padmanabha.
 
From that point forward the name of each Travancore King was gone before by the title Padmanabha Dasa. The gift of the kingdom of Travancore to Padmanabhaswamy was known as Thripadidanam.
 
The present leader of the Travancore Royal Family is Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma.
 
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala takes its name from the directing divinity of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, who is otherwise called Anantha (one who leans back on the Serpent Ananatha). “Thiruvananthapuram” truly implies – the place that is known for Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy.
 
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The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple according to conviction is situated at a place that is considered as one of the seven Parasurama Kshetras. Also, references of this temple are there in writings like the Puranas, viz.
 
the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana. The temple stands near the heavenly tank – Padma Theertham, which signifies ‘lotus spring.’
 
The place of worship is presently keep running by a trust headed by the recent imperial group of Travancore.
 
 
The symbol of the directing divinity of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is noted for its structure, which has 12008 salagramams, which were brought from Nepal, taken from the banks of the River Gandhaki.
 
The garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is situated on a stone chunk and the primary symbol, which is around 18 ft long, can be seen through three distinct entryways.
 
The head and mid-section are seen through the principal entryway; while the hands can be located during that time entryway and the feet through the third entryway.
 
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Architecture structure of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple 

 
The temple engineering emerges for its work in stone and bronze. The temple insides are decorated by wonderful works of art and wall paintings.
 
Some of them are that of the life-measure pictures of Lord Vishnu in the leaning back stance, Narasimha Swamy (half-lion, half man incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Lord Ganapati and Gaja Lakshmi.
 
The temple has a dhwaja stamba (hail post) that is around 80 ft high and is secured with gold plated copper sheets.
 
The temple additionally makes them intrigue auxiliary components as Bali Peeda Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam.
 
These are corridors, brightened with wonderful figures of different Hindu divinities. Another structure that catches consideration here is the Navagraha Mandapa the roof of which shows the navagrahas (the nine planets).
 
Expansive hallway with 365 and 1/4 molded rock stone columns
 
Reaching out from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum is a wide passageway which has 365 and one-quarter formed rock stone columns with wonderful carvings.
 
There is a ground floor beneath under the principle enchant in the eastern side, which is known as the nataka sala, where Kerala’s traditional work of art – the Kathakali is performed amid the yearly ten-day celebration at the temple, held amid the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam.
 

Aarti time at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple

 
Morning hours:
 
03:30 a.m. to 04:45 a.m. (Nirmalya Darshanam)
 
06:30 a.m. to 07:00 a.m.
 
8.30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
 
10:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
 
11:45 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
 
Evening hours:
 
05:00 p.m. to 06:15 p.m.
 
06:45 p.m. to 07:20 p.m.
 
If it’s not too much trouble take note of that the temple opening timings are liable to change amid celebration event.
 
Clothing standard to be taken after at the temple:
 
Just Hindus are allowed inside the temple.
 
There is a strict clothing standard that should be taken after while entering the temple. Men need to wear mundu or dhoti (worn around the midsection and going down up to the heels) and ought not wear shirts of any sort.
 
Ladies need to wear sari, mundum neriyathum (set-mundu), skirt and pullover, or half sari.
 
Dhotis are accessible for lease at the temple spellbind. These days temple powers permit wearing of dhotis over jeans or churidhar to maintain a strategic distance from burden to the fans.
 
 
Kerala’s Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has been a fascination in India for many years, and one shrouded in mystery and fear.
 
Two enormous Cobras are rumored to be protecting the inner most hidden chamber. To make matters worse, legend has it that anyone who opens the vault will be met with disastrous results.
 
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram has shown that a massive amount of gold .
 
The treasure was discovered when five of the six subterranean vaults in the 16th century temple were opened on June 27, 2011, on the orders of the Supreme Court, which was hearing a private petition seeking transparency in the running of the temple.
 
The valuables in the five vaults, estimated to be worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore, include gold coins weighing 1,000 kg, over a tonne of gold in the form of rice trinkets, a sack full of diamonds and a rare statue of Lord Vishnu studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
 
Experts believe the riches in the sixth vault could be even more than what has been unearthed thus far.
 
Securing this massive wealth is costing the Kerala government crores of rupees. The state-of-the-art security for the temple, which has been declared a no-fly-zone, comprises an aerial surveillance system, blast-proof perimeter walls, seismic sensors to protect the vaults from tunnelling, surveillance cameras, baggage scanners, burglar alarms, and a visitor-tracking system.
 
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History of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

 
The exact date or year of construction for the Temple is unknown. However, the temple, as well as the city, has been mentioned as the Golden Temple in the Sangam literature (Tamil literature) as early as 500 BC and 300 AD.
 
Many scholars believe that the whole city surrounding the temple was extremely rich and was covered in gold.
 
It is believed by scholars that the Temple was a site of worship since the beginning of the Kaliyuga. Several records written on Palm Leaf have been handed down through several
 
As per the legend, Sage Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar performed Tapasya or Penance for obtaining a Darshan of Lord Vishnu.
 
The Lord is believed to have presented himself to him as a small mischievous orphan boy. The Sage allowed him to stay with him on the condition that he will not disturb him during his prayers. After some days, the boy disrupted his Pooja by defiling the image of the Lord.
 
The Sage became angry and chased the boy away. Just before leaving, the boy told the sage that is he wants to find him, he must visit Ananthankadu.
 
The Sage realized that the boy was the Lord himself. He turned repentant and searched Ananthankadu. He eventually found the boy merging into the “Illuppa Tree” (Indian Butter Tree).
 
The tree fell down and transformed into a huge figure of Lord Vishnu in the Anantha Shayanam form. The figure was so huge that the head lay in Thiruvallam (5 km from the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Shrine) and the feet lay at Trippapur (8 km on the other side).
 
 
Overwhelmed by the occurrence, the Sage requested the Lord to condense his form so that he could witness his entire form. As per his wish, Lord Vishnu shrank his form.
 
The Sage immediately offered a dry mango in a Coconut shell (the same is offered to the deity till date). The spot where the Sage was given a darshan belonged to Koopakkara and Karuva Potti. A small shrine was built at the site with the help of local Brahmins.


Festivals celebrated at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Alpasi and Meenam Utsavam – The Temple celebrated two festivals in a year – the Alpasi and the Meenam occurring in October – November and March – April respectively.
 
Each festival is celebrated for 10 days. The event starts with the flag hoisting ceremony which is meant to be an invitation to all Gods and Goddesses to attend the rituals.
 
Special processions are conducted around the temple premises twice every day. Six different Vahanas are used to carry the Utsava Moorthy of Lord Padmanabhaswamy around the temple.
 
These Vahanas are called the Simhasana, Anantha, Kamala, Pallaku, Garuda, and Indra. On the ninth day, the ritual of Pallivetta is conducted which symbolises a royal hunt during which the Lord comes down and annihilates all the ills of the society.
 
 
Swargavathil or Vaikunta Ekadasi – The highly auspicious day dedicated to Lord Vishnu falls on the eleventh day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Dhanur (December – January).
 
It is ardently believed that Lord Vishnu opens the gates of Vaikuntam on this day. Devotees observe rigorous fast on this day and dedicate the day to worshiping Lord Vishnu. It is believed that one can liberate themselves from the cycle of birth and death.
 
 
Vishu – The day marks the beginning of the Malayalam New Year. The festival is celebrated with great fanfare with fireworks and Vishukanni playing a major role in the festivities.
 
On this day, the Vishukanni (ritual arrangement of auspicious articles such as rice, fruits and vegetables around the deity) is arranged inside the inner sanctum.
 
 
Lakshadeepam – The unique festival is celebrated once in 6 years. The recitation of the holy Vedas is done for 56 days prior to the day of Lakshadeepam. On the auspicious day, one lakh lamps are lit and decorated around the temple premises giving it a grand appearance.
 
 
Onam – The grand festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of King Mahabali.
 
It is also believed that the day signifies the birth of Sree Padmanabhaswamy. The festival is celebrated for ten days in the month of Chingam (first month of the Malayalam calendar).
 
The Onavillu Charthal is the highlight of the Onam celebrations. Onavillu is a ceremonial bow-shaped wooden piece that is carved out of trees like Kadambu, Jackfruit or Maruthu. They are decorated with miniature paintings of Anantha Shayanam posture of Lord Vishnu.
 
 
Some of the other important festivals celebrated at the Temple premises are Ashtami Rohini (Krishna Janmashtami), Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri, Mahashivarathri and Ram Navami.
 


Poojas and Rituals at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

  • Deepardhanai – This is the first ritual of the day and is performed early in the morning at 3:30 AM. The lamps are lit and amidst the chantings of holy mantras and shlokas, the God is awakened from his sleep.
 
  • Usha pooja – The Pooja is performed after the first Deepardhanai. The God is bathed with holy water and then decorated with flowers, Basil, and Sandalwood Paste.
 
  • Pantheeradi Pooja – The Pooja is performed at 6 AM.
 
  • Ucha Pooja – This ritual is performed at mid-day. After the ritual, Naivedyam is offered to the Lord and then the sanctum doors are closed for darshan.


How To Reach Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Kerala

 
Closest railroad station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, around 1 km away
 
Closest airplane terminal: Trivandrum International Airport, around 6 km away



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