Controversy Kerala Padmnabhaswamy Temple

Controversy Over Kerala Padmnabhaswamy Temple

Thiruvanathapuram Padmnabhaswamy Temple: The Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is making headlines for the past one week on account of the vast treasure found in its secret vaults. A billion dollar controversy has surrounded Kerala's Padmnabhaswamy temple as to who owns the treasure trove found at the temple and how much is it worth.   The world will have to wait longer for the answers. The Supreme Court has gagged the committee appointed to take stock after one of the members spoke to the press.   The Supreme Court said that it has barred members of the committee from speaking to the press and expressing an opinion on who the owner of the jewellery is.     The court has said that there should be videography and photography of the evaluation process of the inventory. The Supreme Court will take the help of ASI in appointing a curator as to where the jewellery should be kept, for example a museum or a vault. It all began when a lawyer called Sundarrajan approached the High Court of Kerala alleging misrule of the Padmnabhaswamy temple by the Travancore Royal family. Following this, the High Court gave a directive to the state government to take over the temple early this year. The royal family approached the Supreme Court with an appeal and that's when the apex court ordered for the stock taking process. Public debate is raging on and authorities have been taking strong positions considering the religious sentiments involved. "We are waiting for the court judgement. There might be a lot of opinions, but it is clear that the wealth belongs to the temple." said MP Shashi Tharoor

history of sri padmanabhaswamy temple

History of Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is making headlines for the past one week on account of the vast treasure found in its secret vaults. It is natural for everyone to get curious about the temple and its invaluable treasure which was lying unknown to the world all these days. Answers for some of the frequently asked questions about the temple and its treasure are given here. Who owns the temple riches? The presiding deity Padmanabha Swamy. In 1750, Travancore ruler Marthanda Varma donated all the kingdom's wealth to the deity. How many vaults are there in the temple? Over the last week, a seven-member team has opened up five of the six secret vaults. The last one is being investigated now. It has not been opened. What is the worth of the treasure trove? Treasure worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore found so far. Why the inventory check? The search on the vaults was initiated after a lawyer petitioned the Supreme Court to order a government take over of the temple as it did not have enough security. Did the royals know of the temple riches? The existence of the temple's staggering wealth was always known. The 1941 Pradhanapetta (important) Mathilakom Records compiled by Malayalam poet Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer mentions it. The 12-volume Kottaram (Palace) manual also talks of it. Records talk of sacred cellars from which treasure is now being dug out. Did the royals ever dip into the treasure trove? Never. The royals call themselves Padmanabha Dasa (servants of Lord Padmanabha) and are pledge-bound never to take even a penny from the Lord's wealth. Royal family members who visit the shrine wipe off the sand from their feet when they leave the shrine. Family members don't take home even a speck of sand belonging to Padmanabha! Who manages the shrine now? Though Travancore merged with the Indian Union in 1949, the management of the temple remains with royal family. What were the boundaries of the erstwhile Travancore state? It extended from Kanyakumari in present-day Tamil Nadu to Aluva (in Ernakulam) in the north. Padmanabhapuram (now in Tamil Nadu) was the first capital, but it was shifted to to Thiruvananthapuram subsequently.  

temple treasure trove

Sri Pdmanabhaswamy Temple treasure Crosses 1 Lakh Crore

Two more vaults will be opened today in Sri Padmanabhswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. A Supreme Court appointed seven member team is taking stock of the treasure trove that surfaced in cellar chambers of the temple, a week ago. The estimated value of the treasure found at the temple is estimated to be over Rs 1 lakh crore so far. The Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, one of the oldest in Kerala, may soon turn out to be one of the India's richest temples. There are apprehensions about the safety of the priceless wealth found inside the temple chambers. The Centre is expected to provide security forces to guard the temple premises following the discovery. The chambers are believed to contain priceless gold and silver ornaments. The chambers had been kept shut for the last 130 years but were finally opened on June 27 following a Supreme Court order. One of the chambers, that was remained shut for nearly a century revealed precious jewels, stones, ornaments and metal lamps of rare heritage and antique values when it was opened and examined on Thursday. www.teluguone.com/news/content/richest-treasure-trove-found-in-thiruvananthapuram-20-3900.html The opening of the first four chambers showed that three of them housed gold ornaments, vessels, jewels and precious stones worth hundreds of crores of rupees. It also had gold chains, diamond-studded bracelets, a crown and a golden bow. The temple, built in 18th century by King Marthanda Varma of the Travancore royal lineage, is run by a trust under control of the royal house and Lord Padmanabha is the family deity of Travancore Royal house. The apex court had issued orders on a private petition, which sought measures for greater transparency and accountability in management of the temple. The Supreme Court appointed committee consists of two former Kerala High Court judges. The actual worth of the treasure will only be revealed in a report to the Supreme Court. www.teluguone.com/news/content/richest-treasure-trove-found-in-thiruvananthapuram-20-3900.html

Thiruvanathapuram sri padmanabhaswamy temple

Richest Treasure Trove Found in Thiruvananthapuram

The richest ever treasure trove in the recent history was found in Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. More than Rs. 50,000 Crore treasure which included antique gold ornaments, diamonds and other precious stones, golden crown, golden bow, golden vessels, and other precious stones were found in the secret chambers of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. www.teluguone.com/news/content/sri-pdmanabhaswamy-temple-treasure-crosses-1-lakh-crore-20-3967.html The seven member panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India to draw up a list of assets of the ancient Lord Vishnu Temple. The team accompanied by personnel from Fire Department and Archaeology opened the secret lockers in Chamber 'A' and were mesmerized by the sight of the huge treasure grove in front of them.   www.teluguone.com/news/content/sri-pdmanabhaswamy-temple-treasure-crosses-1-lakh-crore-20-3967.html Source said that the original value of the treasure found in the Sree Ananda Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trivandrum will be much more than Rs 50,000 Crore when calculating the price including the antiquity of the treasure found. Some of the list of gold inventory found in the temple include golden crowns, 17 kg of gold coins dating back to the East India Company period, gold in the shape of rice trinkets weighing one tonne, 18 ft long golden necklace weighing 2.5 kg, gold ropes, sack full of diamonds, thousands of pieces of antique jewellery studded with diamonds and emeralds, and golden vessels.  www.teluguone.com/news/content/sri-pdmanabhaswamy-temple-treasure-crosses-1-lakh-crore-20-3967.html According to reliable sources, the original value of the inventories found in Chamber A alone may exceed worth Rs. 50, 000 Crore. Officials are yet to open chamber B and it is believed that the total assets of Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram will surely exceed the assets of the world famous Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh. www.teluguone.com/news/content/sri-pdmanabhaswamy-temple-treasure-crosses-1-lakh-crore-20-3967.html