So I guess miracles do happen! I am not talking about pulling a rabbit out of the magician’s hat or making someone disappear. This time it is not at a magic concert nor is it by a trained magician. The lord himself is the mastermind behind the miracle now. In the divine space, where Lord Vishnu lies in the state of Anantashayanam at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in the capital city of Trivandrum, supreme magic has taken place. The temple which is one of the most important places of worship in the whole of India has turned out to be the richest in the country revealing a treasure trove of gold worth billions. The six secret vaults that were opened recently disclosed precious antiques and gold ornaments that in itself is a rare find.
The Padmanabaswamy temple is one of the 108 holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. The city is named ‘Thiruvananthapuram’ after the temple meaning ‘sacred abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha’. The temple is constructed on Dravidian style of architecture and is managed by the Royal kings of Travancore. During the early years, the temple was managed by the Nair feudal lords of Travancore called the Ettuveetil Pellumar. Later on, King Marthanda Varma conquered the Travancore region and dedicated the region to Lord Padmanabha.
The Dravidian style of architecture has worked wonders to the one of the most beautiful temples in the world. The Gopuram is a an architecture marvel that is 100 foot tall and a seven tier. The Gopuram stands adjacent to the Padma theertha or the sacred waters. There are three hundred and sixty five and one quarter sculptured granite stone pillars with cravings engraved on it. The ground floor under the gopuram has the natakashala where the art form of Kathakali is staged. The deity of the Lord Padmanabha is cast entirely in gold with gold ornaments adorning the divine body.
There are various festivals associated with the temple. The Alpashy festival held in October/November lasts for 10 days. This festival ends with a purificatory immersion of the idols of the deities in the Shanmugham beach followed by taking them back to the temple and performing poojas. Another important festival is the Navaratri festival that lasts for 9 days when the idols of Goddess Durga, Goddess Saraswati and Lord Murugan is brought to the front of the Padamanabhaswamy temple in procession. This is also the venue for the famous Swathi Tirunal music festival. The biggest of all celebrations here is the Lakshadeepam where one lakh lamps or diyas are lit in and around the temple. This is a unique festival that is conducted once in every 6 years.
The temple follows a strict dress code for the devotees. Men are not allowed to wear pants and women are restricted from wearing salwars. Dhotis can be borrowed from the temple premises for men. The Padmanabhaswamy temple is one of the few temples that still follow the rituals and traditions of the Hindu religion in the exact way prescribed in the holy books.
The Padmanabhaswamy temple in the Travancore region is one of the richest in the country and the world today after its recent wealth estimation. The temple has topped the list replacing the Tirumala temple in Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. While you are visiting the temple, you could enjoy the serenity and the holiness of Kerala with The Other Home. The Summer House Holiday Home in Kollam is a waterfront homestay that can give you an ideal beach holiday while the Vanilla County in Kottayam is a charismatic plantation homestay. You could explore a wide range of religious and spiritual destinations with The Other Home. For more details, contact us at info@theotherhome.com.
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