Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple - The wealthiest in the World!

Hello people,

Temple in 1940

In 1931, at least one vault was opened. An auspicious time was chosen and that was 10 am, December 6^th. This was done in presence of then Maharaja, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

Among the contents found were gold and silver coins stored in a "granary like thing," four brass chests of coins, over 300 gold pots, and a six-chambered wooden chest containing jewels decorated with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones. Four coffers were removed and taken to the palace treasury for counting and valuation.

Sri Chithira Thirunal

In 2011, the Supreme Court of India directed the authorities from the fire services and archeology department to open vaults of the temple for inspection of the items kept inside. Assets consisting of gold, jewels, and other treasures were found in the vaults of the temple. Several 18th century Napoleonic era coins were found, as well as a three-and-a-half feet tall gold idol of Mahavishnu studded with rubies and emeralds, and ceremonial attire for adorning the deity in the form of 16-part ‘Thanka’ [gold] ‘Anki’ weighing almost 30 kilograms (66 lb) together with gold coconut shells, one studded with rubies and emeralds.

There are vessels to distribute ‘Payasam’ [A sweet dish, of milk] and that too is made of gold. ‘Sarappoli Malas’ and another 16 foot golden ‘mala’ [necklace] was also found. There were 2500 golden pots and 100s of gold coins found. Golden coins were presented by the raja everyday on his visit to the temple. Hundred thousand of them were brought from Surat and are called ‘Surat nanayam’ [Surat coins].

Supreme Court

As of now, the value found is estimated around 22 BillionDollars! When the 6^th vault the ‘Bharatakon Ara’ is opened, it is said to have a vault inside it as well, the total is estimated to cross 27-30 billion $ making Sri Padmanabhaswami temple the richest in the world. But as mentioned previously, its opening has been stalled for now, by the Supreme Court.

Coins used in 16th century Thiruvithancore

Now the question is what to do with the assets. Many suggestions have come from various set of people and experts. Some say government should take over and use it for the development of the state or the country. [Total worth is more that the educational budget of the country]. Museum is another suggestion and the Trivandrum MP; Sri Shashi Tharoor alsostated the same. Museum director has said ‘he is ready to take over’ the assets to the museum. Various banks have come forward to safe guard the assets. Some say that it should be kept in the temple itself and should be kept as symbols of our rich history. But some say that if kept in the temple it would be of no use and even more money should be spent to protect it.  Someone rightly said Opinions are like ‘nose’, everyone has one! Well, not exactly, but something instead of a ‘nose’.

I think there are a 2 general ways that this wealth could be used and its absolutely not dead wealth.

One is of course to sell and convert it to cash.  Second is to keep it as a rich historical symbol and generate wealth from displaying it.

First one is rather ruthless and I am against it for sure. And, to trust our ‘great’ parliamentarians and ministers with all that cash would be like shutting the vaults again with no one guarding it! 

Kohinoor

Really, it is a test for all those who say that Europeans looted all our wealth, Kohinoor and our brains! But at least they are in some museum or the other and making us think about our history. Now, our wealth is in our hands. It’s depending on Indians on its future. The same who support corruption, nepotism, bribery, scams, vandalisms, writing names + love symbol on historical buildings and God knows what all! 

As my humble opinion, if I can have one on this matter, I prefer the second way. We should keep this for display and protect it. Now what should be done with that income? Now, I have missed the big word that is ‘Secularism’ altogether! But I would go with being ‘Fair’ rather than ‘Secular’. I think the wealth should be used for the poorer Temples and the poor ‘Thantri’s who leaves on 50Rs daily by performing the rituals in those temples. We can help the sweepers and other workers in various temples who struggle for their daily wages. We can set up ‘Vedic Pathshalas or Sanskrit Pathshalas’ as a tribute to a great language and culture. There is no harm in donating a fair part of the income to the government as well for the development of the state or the country.

I also think we should not build a separate Museum. But instead it should be built inside the temple premises itself, or buy land near the temple and build it there as a part of the temple. It would be like a museum but part of the temple.

Louvre

Now the museum or whatever we build should be like a ‘Louvre’ and not like any other museum. It should be protected with apt security and not like our other museum from where Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings were stolen like they were being stolen from an abandoned building.

Now the question will be asked who will build the ‘museum’. If the government builds it, naturally the income also should go to the government. I think the Devasom Board which has a lot of money; together with the Palace and contributions from other ‘Bhaktas’ [I won’t say only Hindus, Bhaktas in the sense whoever wants to contribute] can cover the expenses of the same. 

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Vivekananda Rock - Kanyakumari

It should be a thing which India can be proud of. Marketing can be great as Kovalam is nearby and also Kanyakumari. So both Pilgrims and Tourists will be attracted to the display. That’s why the display should be part of the temple itself.  Lets hope something fair will materialize and India can be proud of the temple and the wealth.

P.S: Opinions, as I said are like ‘bodyparts’, everyone has one! So please spare me of your abuses. But the ‘bodyparts are welcome!

Update on 12th July : The raja of Thiruvithancore, Sri Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma , has made his opinion clear that all the wealth belongs to the God. Heres the link to the interview . He had already told the Supreme Court that none of it belongs to him.



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Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple - The wealthiest in India cont.

Hello people,

Uthradam Thirunal

As the Supreme Court of India has stalled the opening of the 6th vault for now, and as the media personnel have breathing space, the current Raja of Thiruvithancore [no official power nor the Title remains]- Uthradam Thirunal, who is 80 years old- has clarified to the Apex court that neither he nor anyone of his relatives wants any share of the wealth found and he is just a ‘Padmanabhadasa’ [Deity's servent] as were his predecessors. The fact that their clan knew of the whole thing and even after having full control of the temple [It is run through the trust from the Palace] have not even thought of taking any part of it and also were successful in keeping is safe and secure is creditable and that shows their character. That’s the ‘trust’ factor that I mentioned at the beginning.

Ay Kingdom - Southern tip

Venad- down south

The temple is said, by the historians, to have been built by the Ay rajas, who ruled at the end of the first millennium. Their reign coincided with the end of Chera dynasty and then a new Kingdom, the Kingdom of Venad, took over the temple and the south of Kerala. They added Mutts for visitors stay and also added to wealth of the temple. The wealth came through various means like gifts and also as present when some social issue was solved by the temple. Even elephants were received as gifts! An important contributor to the temple from the Venad kingdom was Bhootala Veera Marthanda Varma. He expanded the territory of Venad upto present day Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu. There is even a sculpture of him in Satya Vagisvarar temple in Tirunalveli. Venads history after Bhootala Veera was filled with tensions, internal tensions and clashes, and the temple was shut down for most of the time due to circumstantial inconvenience. It may have been possible that the wealth of man prominent Kings were kept in the temple for safety or donated to the temple during that time. 

Ettuveedan - Ettuveettil Pilla

The temple, then, was run by a group called ‘Ettarayogam’ [Eight and a half group]. It consisted of ‘Pottys’ from 7 prominent families, one ‘Nair Tharavadu’ and King as the half. [Koovakkara Potti, Vanchiyur Attiyara Potty, Kollur Attiyara Potty, Muttavila Potty, Neythassheri Potty, Karuva Potty, Sri Karyattu Potty, Palliyadi Karanatta Kuruppu were the ones with the right to vote].The treasurers of sorts were ‘Ettuveettil Pillamar’. During the clashes the Pillas and the King were on the opposite sides.  Using this to their advantage, the Dutch, who were in Cochin spread their roots across Venad.

Anizham Thirunal

But in 1729, a strong-willed and farsighted King- Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma [reignal years 1729 – 1758] - took over and successfully suppressed the uprisings and also reigned in the clashes. The Travancore Kings have their names preceded by their birth star. So ‘Anizham’ is the birth star of Marthanda Varma.  He is said, again, by the historians, to have contributed most to the temple. He captured and recaptured provinces in the north up to Cochin and defeated the Dutch in the battle of ‘Coletchal’ in 1741. Admiral Eustatius De Lennoy who led the Dutch made donations to the temple. Historians say, that explains the finding of Dutch coins Belgian cut-glasses and diamonds and Portuguese coins in the vaults.     

Dutch Surrender

The Thiruvithancore Kings are called or self-confessed ‘Padmanabha Dasas’ or Gods servants. This was initiated by Anizham Thirunal, in 1749-50 as he gifted his Kingdom to the deity. The function was called ‘Thrippadi Danam’.  He announced, after gifting his sword to the deity - that henceforth the Kings of Thiruvithancore will be just the representatives of Sri Padmanabha and the deity was the ruler of the Kingdom. Before this ceremony, he re built the temple somewhat taken-aback [I won’t say ruined] by the internal clashes of Venad. He took 10000 ‘Kazhanj’ gold from the Dutch in return to pepper in 1939. The Dutch artifacts clarify this was used for a ceremony called ‘Hiranyagarbham’ at the temple. Anizham Thirunal had decided that Sri Padmanabhaswami temple was going to be his center even though he had his sword undergo religious ‘pooja’ at Thiruvattar Adikesha temple in present day Kanyakumari before going to war with the Dutch. The present ‘Vigraha’ was built by a ‘shilpi’ called ‘Balaranyakoni Devan’. The ‘Vigraha’ is about 18 foot and can be seen only from 3 doors as stated before. The ‘Ottakkal  Mandapam’ was built using a single rock procured from ‘Thirumala’ a place near present day Thiruvanathapuram. 

Kodimaram

The teak wood for the ‘Kodimaram’[Flagstaff] was brought from ‘Kakkachal’ in present day Tamil nadu. Historical artifacts reveal that there were 4000 skilled workers, 6000 ‘koolis’ and 100 elephants for the construction.

A  tulabharam Ceremony

The coronation ceremony was preceded by a ceremony called ‘Hiranyagarbham’. Before that in ‘Tulapurushadanam’ or tulabharam gold coins to match Kings Weight were distributed to Brahmans. Then King walked into a big 10 ft. x 8 ft. vessel in shape of ‘Tamara’ which is filled with ‘Panchagavya’. The vessel was then shut for around 10 minutes and Vedic chants were recited. This was called ‘Padmagarbham’. Then the King came out and the crown was placed on his head. 

Painguni Festival

He wore the crown only on that day as the King was Padmanabha dasa and the Kingdom was supposed to be of Padmanabha - the deity.  The rituals that were there in Anizham Thirunal’s time are continued even today. Festivals like ‘Alppashi’ and ‘Painguni’ are examples were the King is involved.

Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai

Later, when we go into the British East India company time, Colonel Munro was appointed the Resident of Cochin and Thiruvithancore. Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai, the Thiruvithancore Queen then, appointed Munro as the ‘Divan’. Munro found the wide spread corruption in the temple run under the ‘Ettara Yogam’. He brought it under government control. Even though now the temple is run by a trust from the Palace, the ‘Ettara Yogam’ is asked for suggestions for rituals and festivals as a custom.

Chithira Thirunal

It was Chithira Thirunal balarama Varma at the helm when India became independent. It is said, that he opened the temple doors for the untouchables[who were not allowed to enter then] when Mahatma Gandhi requested him to do so. He also agreed to the joint state of Kerala, even though he was initially skeptical as Cochin, which he considered enemies of his predecessors, was also going to be a part of the same state. He was the last ruling King of Thiruvithancore as the official powers were stripped off after Independence.

I will write about the things found next.

To be continued…

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Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple - The wealthiest in India.

Hello people,

Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple

For the last week, it has been going on like a movie script. Trust, treasure, devotion, debates, anxiety, curiousness, proudness, fear, happiness – every emotion and thoughts are going through the minds of the people from Kerala a small state on the southernmost tip of India.  The fact that I am one them makes me write about this! 

It has been a week since the Supreme Court of India ordered opening of the vaults in Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple, citing a private petition, in which the petitioner said he wanted to make sure the temple authorities, - the temple is run by a trust consisting of the royal family of Thiruvithancore[present day Thiruanathapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and parts of Kottayam] – managing the accounts without any misappropriation.
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Thiruvithancore map

Vigraha of Sri Padmnabha

There were 6 vaults to be opened in all. 2 of them were not opened for more than 150 years! Surprise of some kind was expected to be found. But it really conjured up something much bigger. Latest assumptions are in the range of $22 billion. The least valuable metal found was silver. Everything else was gold, or diamonds or rubies or emeralds or pearls!  There was golden ‘vigraha’ [the word meaning embodiment] – the idol of the deity - studded with valuable stones. There were golden coconuts and even golden brooms [those were meant to dust the ‘vigraha’! ‘Sharappolimala’ which is a kind of a garland to be adorned on the deity was 18 feet and was fully gold studded with stones! The ‘vigraha’ itself is in a lying position symbolizing ‘Anantasayanam’ – meaning Maha Vishnu [the God] is posture in ‘Yognidra’ or eternal penance on the body of ‘Ananta’ the snake. The word ‘Ananta means ‘infinity’ or ‘Entirety’!  It symbolizes that Vishnu is lying over infinity or that he is everywhere. The word ‘Vishnu’ itself means ‘Prevading over’ and ‘NU’ meaning over everything. Below the deity is supposed to be the Arabian sea, though it’s not verified.

Temple in 1931

Shankha

There is a underground path towards ‘Shankumukham’ a nearby beach which was very active during the 14^th to 19^th century. ‘ShankhuMukham’ means the mouth of the ‘Shankha’ or seashell which is regarded in India as one of the ‘Panchavadyas ‘or five important musical instruments. When blown, it should emit a long, loud and sonorous sound like ‘OM’. It is also considered to medicinally valuable. Shankha bhasma-bhasma meaning ash -  is prepared by soaking the shell in lime juice and calcinating in covered crucibles, ten to twelve times, and finally reducing it to powder ash. Shankha bhasma contains calcium, iron and magnesium and is considered to possess antacid and digestive properties. ‘Valampiri Shankhu’ or Dextral Conch-shell, served as the state emblem of Thiruvithancore and it can still be seen on the emblem of Kerala state. The deity can be vied through 3 doors. One for Lord Shiva one for Brahma and the other for Lord Vishnu.

Golden Shankha

Going into the history of the temple, the temple dates back to 8th  century AD. Reference about the temple can be found in ancient scriptures like ‘Brahma Puranam’ , ‘Brahmanda Puranam’, ‘Skanda Puranam’, ‘Matsya Puranam’ and ‘Padma Puranam’.  Historians say that the temple was constructed by Chera Dynasty. After the dynasty weakened, it was part of Kingdom of ‘Venad’ – present day – south central Kerala. The ‘Vigraha is said to be made of 12500 ‘Saligramas’ brought from the kingdom of Nepal. It took two and half years for 25000 Saligramas were presented by the King of Nepal and elephants were used as the mode of transport! 

to be continued...,

P.S: Please add to the info if you have any regarding this post...,

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