The Indian Chamber of Secrets

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a Hindu temple situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Thiruvananthapuram, derived from Malayalam and Tamil, means "The City of Ananta," with Ananta representing a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. This magnificent temple showcases a blend of Kerala and Dravidian architectural styles, characterized by towering walls and a gopuram constructed in the 16th century.

The Northern Entrance By Pcbekal - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21477025

Shrouded in mystery, with its secrets guarded by snakes, the world's richest temple possesses the power to leave anyone who encounters its story utterly speechless. Words like indescribable, unparalleled, incomparable, and invaluable lose their meaning and become mere expressions when attempting to describe this magnificent piece of Indian history and architecture. Since capturing our collective imagination in the summer of 2011 when its treasures were first discovered, this temple has refused to release its hold on our minds.

The temple's story begins with Balarama's visit to Thiruvananthapuram, where he bathed in the sacred Panchapsaras (Padmateertham) and donated ten thousand cows to holy men. This act led to the construction of the present-day Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Padmanabha. Hindu texts such as the Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana mention the temple and Sangam period literature refers to it as the "Golden Temple," with gold-adorned walls and structures.

Efforts have been made to open Vault B in the past, including an attempt in 1908 that was abandoned due to the presence of cobras inside. In 2011, the antechamber to Vault B was opened, but the main vault remained untouched. Some individuals, including spiritual dignitaries and leaders, have opposed the opening of Vault B, emphasizing the importance of faith and cultural significance.

Despite learning about the immense treasure within the temple, the people of the region refuse to utilize it or allow others to do so. The wealth belongs to the temple and the deity itself. Since donations to temples are made when people wish for something and have their wishes fulfilled, the true treasure within the temple is not the gold or precious stones, but the accumulation of hundreds of years' worth of wishes.

The temple boasts six underground vaults labelled A to F, brimming with treasures. It is believed that the temple's wealth accumulated over thousands of years through donations from various dynasties, rulers, traders, and colonial powers. In 2011, the Supreme Court ordered the opening of the secret chambers of the temple for inspection. Vault A and the antechamber to Vault B were opened for inventory purposes, while vaults C to F were periodically opened by the temple's custodian priests. The examination revealed a vast collection of valuable articles, including a solid gold idol of Mahavishnu, gold chains, veils, coins, crowns, chairs, and other precious objects. These treasures possess immense antique, cultural, and historical value, far exceeding the market price. Even with only five smaller vaults opened, the temple's assets constitute the most extensive collection of gold and precious stones in recorded history, surpassing the wealth of empires like the Mughal Empire.

However, it is the unopened Vault B that harbours the most legends and mysteries. This vault is considered the largest and richest, estimated to hold a treasure worth around USD One Trillion.

Legend has it that after Balarama's visit, numerous gods, sages, and Naga Devatas dedicated to him took residence in Vault B, located beneath the Mahabharatakonam. Holy objects like Sreechakram and the Kanjirottu Yakshi were also placed within the vault. A four-day Ashtamangala Devaprasnam conducted in 2011 declared Vault **B a "forbidden zone.”

As time passes, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple continues to shine as a beacon of spirituality and devotion. Pilgrims and tourists marvel at its grandeur, yet the secrets of the secret chambers remain untouched, silently guarding their enigmatic mysteries. The tale of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple echoes through the ages—a story of adventure, discovery, and the wisdom to protect what is truly precious. It serves as a reminder that some secrets are best left in the hands of the divine, while our duty lies in cherishing and honouring the heritage they represent.

The temple also houses other important shrines, such as Thekkedom for Ugra Narasimha and Thiruvambadi for Krishna Swami. The Thiruvambadi shrine has its own separate status and houses the idol of Parthasarathi, the Divine Charioteer of Arjuna. The temple's gopuram, a 7-tiered tower, was built in the Pandyan style and stands at 100 feet. The temple's corridor features 365 and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with intricate carvings. The Nataka Sala, located under the gopuram, is a ground floor where Kathakali performances take place during the annual festival.

Throughout the year, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple hosts several festivals. The major bi-annual festivals are the Aipasi festival in October/November and the Panguni festival in March/April, each lasting 10 days. On the ninth day of these festivals, the Maharaja of Travancore leads the deities to the vettakkalam for Pallivetta. The celebrations conclude with the Aarat procession, during which the deities are ritually bathed in the sea at Shankumugham Beach, accompanied by the Maharaja on foot. After the ceremony, the idols are returned to the temple in a torch-lit procession. Another significant annual festival is the Navratri festival. The Laksha Deepam festival, occurring once every 6 years, is the grandest in the temple. It involves lighting a hundred thousand oil lamps in and around the temple premises following 56 days of prayers and Vedic recitations.

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of Vaishnavism's 108 principal Divya Desams ("Holy Abodes"). According to belief, the idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy was purified and venerated here by Parasurama in Dvapara Yuga. The consecration of the main idol is also associated with the legendary sage Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar. Over time, the deity extended its presence to different locations, culminating in the construction of the temple at its current site.

The Garbhagriha, or inner sanctum, of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, is a significant area where Lord Padmanabha reclines on the serpent Anantha or Adi Sesha. The serpent has five hoods turned inward, symbolizing contemplation. The deity's right-hand rests on a Shiva lingam, while the Goddess of Prosperity, Sridevi-Lakshmi, and the Goddess of Earth, Bhudevi, stand on either side. Brahma emerges from a lotus that emanates from the deity's navel. The idol is made from 12,008 saligramams collected from the banks of the Gandaki River in Nepal. The deity is covered with a special Ayurvedic mix called "Katusarkara yogam," which consists of 108 natural materials from all over India and forms a protective coat.

The platforms in front of the vimana (tower) and where the deity rests are carved out of a massive stone called "Ottakkal-mandapam." This stone was brought by Marthanda Varma, the ruler of Travancore, and placed in front of the deity. Additionally, 12,000 shaligrams, aniconic representations of Vishnu, were obtained from the Gandaki River and used in the reconsecration of Padmanabha. To have darshan (sight) and perform puja (worship), one must ascend to the mandapam. Three doors provide views of different aspects of the deity, including Padmanabha and the Siva Linga, Sridevi, Bhrigu Muni, Brahma, and the golden abhisheka idol, as well as the feet of the deity and Bhudevi.

The Southern Entrance By Aravind Sivaraj - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27496232

The state carriage of the Maharaja of Travancore, the family in charge of managing the temple

The Lake in front of the Temple By Diaspora dept - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73005147

Yalli Pillars at the entrance By P.K.Niyogi - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3351874

A gopuram of the temple By Rahulrnath001 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109964735

By మురళీకృష్ణ ముసునూరి - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107893203

Walkway to the temple By P.K.Niyogi - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3351866

Anantsayana Vishnu in a museum By Pratish Khedekar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53692555

Gopuram of the Temple By Manu Jha - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21039381