SREE PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE

HISTORY:

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. The Maharajahs of Travancore are Cheras and descendants of the great saint Kulashekhara Alwar. The temple is a replica of the famous                Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar. Sri Pamanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital-Thiruvananthapuram. Among other things, the temple is famous for having a secret vault that no human can ever open easily.

HOLY ABODE OF PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE:

The principal deity Padmanabhaswamy is enshrined in the “Anantha–sayanam” posture(in the eternal sleep of Yoga-nidra on the serpent Anantha). The Maharaja of Travancore bears of the title, “Sree Padmanabhaswamy“(Servant of Lord Padmanabha). The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams(Holy Abodes of Vishnu)- principal centers of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Alvar saints (6th-9th centuries CE), with structural additions to it made throughout the 16th century CE, when its ornate Gopuram was constructed.

GODDESS OF PROSPERITY:

Sridevi, the Goddess of Prosperity and Bhudevi the Goddess of Earth, two consorts of Vishnu are by his side. Brahma emerges on a lotus, which emanates from the navel of the Lord. The deity is made from 12,000 saligramams.

PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE AND ITS ANCIENT TREASURE:

This ancient temple containing six hidden vaults has been shrouded in mystery – per the ancient legends there is a curse on those who try to defile the sacred site – it is believed that during the 1930’s, temple hunters tied to invade the Temple but as soon as they did, humongous and deadly serpents came out of the hiding.

                                                                                                       -DEEPIKA S