Gold In Temple "The Padmanabhaswamy temple"

The mystery behind 7th Door of Padmanabhaswamy temple

        The capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, named after Lord Vishnu literally means 'the city of Lord Anantha' (city of the eternal Lord). The presiding deity, known as Padmanabha Swamy, depicts the emergence of Lord Brahma (the creator) seated on a lotus blooming out of Lord Vishnu's navel. Hence, the name Padmanabha Swamy, where the 'Padma' refers to the lotus, 'Nabha' means navel, and 'Swamy' is Lord. Here, Lord Padmanabha Swamy is seen in a reclining (Anantha Shayanam, meaning a state of eternal sleep) posture on the Adi Shesha, the five-hooded serpent (also known as Shesha Nag).

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is a shrine located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Today, it is run by the head of a Travancore royal family. The descendants of Kulashekhara Alwar, a famous man who helped in the construction of the temple run the temple, as Cheras and Maharajahs. The temple has a brilliant architecture, fashioned out of Tamil and Kerala style. As a result, it shares similarities with the ‘Kovil’ of Tamil Nadu as well as the fort culture of Kerala. The temple has high walls, a Gopuram, and a Moolasthanam. Most of the architects felt that this temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple, located at Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari. The geographical location of the temple is said to be in Kumbala, Kasargod District

Among all the things, this temple is known for having a vault that can’t be opened by any human. The temple has Vishnu, as the principal deity in the ‘Anantha Shayanam’; the yogic sleeping posture on Adhishesan, the serpent. Therefore, it is said the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu will only have the power to open the door. Till then, all the attempts to open the vault through man-made technology will only result in catastrophes around the temple. Vault B of the temple should be open only through mystic chanting so that there won’t be any harm by the serpents. There are no reliable historical texts, about the origin of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. But few historians like Dr. L.A. Ravi Varma have told that the temple is established around 5000 years ago, during the first day of Kali Yuga.

Among all the things, this temple is known for having a vault that can’t be opened by any human. The temple has Vishnu, as the principal deity in the ‘Anantha Shayanam’; the yogic sleeping posture on Adhishesan, the serpent. Therefore, it is said the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu will only have the power to open the door. Till then, all the attempts to open the vault through man-made technology will only result in catastrophes around the temple. Vault B of the temple should be open only through mystic chanting so that there won’t be any harm by the serpents. There are no reliable historical texts, about the origin of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. But few historians like Dr. L.A. Ravi Varma have told that the temple is established around 5000 years ago, during the first day of Kali Yuga.

History of Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The Temple has references in Epics and Puranas. Srimad Bhagavatha says that Balarama visited this Temple, bathed in Padmatheertham, and made several offerings. Many hymns praising Lord Padmanabha have been composed by Nammalwar who was a 9th-century poet. As per one legend, the idol temple was made divine by a Tulu Brahmin hermit named Divakara Muni. After 950 years of the start of Kaliyuga, the idol was reinstalled. According to the locals the Travancore kings stored immense riches within the thick stone walls and vaults of the temple. The temple is controlled by a trust go by the descendants of the Travancore royalty since Independence. The kingdom of Travancore merged with the princely state of Cochin after 1947. It eventually became the present-day state of Kerala. The inspection of the temple began after India’s Supreme Court appointed a seven-member panel to enter and assess the worth of the objects stored in its cellars, including the two chambers last thought to have been opened about 150 years ago.

The actual legends of the Padmanabhaswamy temple are handed to the generations through the centuries. The temple has few moral principles of not allowing people who do not profess the Hindu faith in it. As a result, they follow a dress code where women were asked to wear sarees while men should drape dhotis around them. As the statistics say, it is one of the richest Hindu Temples in the world where precious stones and metals from previous centuries are found. Also, it is one of the wealthiest institutions in India for worshipping, beating the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. But where did all this wealth come from? The 16th-century kinds of Travancore have managed to store the treasures in vaults made of thin walls. Out of their speculation about treasure being stolen, they have come up with various security methods, which are misinterpreted as curses.

The mythology of Vaults – Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The temple is known to be constructed in an amazing style. The southwest part of the temple is constructed at Chuttambalam where Lord Balarama is believed to donate cows to the people in his village. This particular area is titled as Mahabharatakonam. Both the vaults, Kallara A and Kallara B are located in this area.  According to a popular legend, many Devas and Sages who visited Lord Balarama on Padmateertham requested him to let them reside there. Granting their wish, he gave the Kallara B to them in order to worship the Lord. Naga Devathas and Kanjirottu Yakshi, the ones who enchants form the painting on the Sanctum are believed to reside in this Kallara. Impressed by their bhakti, Lord Vishnu has given the Sreechakram to them to install it in this Kallara to enhance the potency of the lord, residing in it. The Kallar B is said to be protected by Lord Ugra Narasimha, Thekkedom. The serpent image on the door indicates that there is a danger to anyone who opens it. A photo of the snake went viral. In which a large mountain resembling a giant snake appeared. Many people are also saying that if the doors of the Padmanabhaswamy temple are opened, that snake will come alive and it will cause great destruction. That day will be the last day of the world.

The story of Vault B "Kallara"

The temple is often in the news over the secret and mysterious vault named B or traditionally known as Nilavaras or Kallara. It so happened that a retired IPS officer Sundarajan filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2011 to take stock of the temple's unaccounted treasury. Therefore, the Apex Court appointed a seven-member team to make a record of the said hidden or unknown treasury. After the group began searching for the treasury, they found six chambers and named it A, B, C, D, E and F. But opening the doors of these chambers proved a daunting task. However, as they continued with the task of seeing what these vaults treasured, they apparently found gold, diamonds and other precious gems and stones statues and thrones made of precious metals worth Rs 1 lakh crore. However, vault B or Kallara B remained untouched owing to the belief that the one who would attempt to open it would invite misfortune. This belief strengthened after the untimely demise of the petitioner within a few weeks after the vaults were opened. 

Vault B is believed to be guarded by serpents, a folkloric vampire named Kanjirottu Yakshi and other supernatural divinities. They are believed to be the protectors of the vault and anyone trying to open the doors shall invite trouble, it is said.

Centuries ago, when the temple management attempted to open the Kallara B, they heard sounds of waves. And since it sounded mysterious and scary, they stepped back and withdrew their decision to open it.

Subsequently, sometime in the 1930s, when a gang of robbers tried to loot the temple, they found snakes emerging towards them.

Saints of the ancient times are believed to have sealed the door by chanting the powerful Naga Paasam Mantra, and only a priest with the most accurate knowledge can open the doors by chanting the Garuda Mantra. 

So, one can only wonder what lies behind the closed doors of Vault B.

In 2001, many archaeologists opened the underground chambers and came to know that there are a total of six chambers. But, they failed to open it. 5 out of the 6 vaults of the temple are open in June 2011. These vaults are opened as per the orders of the Supreme Court of India. There has been a private petition by people in order to have transparency about the running of this temple. As a result, the Supreme Court has come up with a committee of seven members to open the six vaults along with the Head Trustee of the temple. After digging for almost 20 feet, they have found a treasure of worth $22 billion including 66-pound coconut shells, made of gold, and rubies.

These six chambers are labeled as A to F, as the temple priests loved to label them. They have indeed found some startling elements inside where they found gold coins that dated back to thousands of years. The necklaces which were found are around nine feet long, each one weighing around 2.5 kg. Apart from that, they have found a yellow metal in the shape of sticks and trinkets, sacks of diamonds, gold ropes, and thousands of antique jewelry as well.  Many diamonds, crowns, and other stones are marked in the ‘A’ chamber. In the words of CS Rajan, the High court Judge of Kerala; ‘All these things were strewn and scattered everywhere’. The 75-year-old said that he was shocked to see that these things are not arranged properly and are found in earthen pots, copper pots, small baskets. He added that “It was a magnificent experience. There are no words to describe it.

Storry of 7^th Door – Padmanabhaswamy Temple

 They tried to open the cobra gates of the temple but failed so, but were faced by many cobras and snakes of shrimp variety. They were chased for life”. This incident occurred in 1908 and 1931 too according to the author.
 But the book, only formal record of the vault opening did mention cobras and snakes being infested within the chamber which we are pertaining to as Vault B.
 Vaishnavism books clearly state that the Maharaja of Travancore was a Vaishnavite who devoted the temple to deity lord Padmanabhan and himself became the servant. This clearly states that the chambers were inventories of donations of Vishnu followers from everywhere the planet especially the Sangam Era kingdoms of Chola, Chera, Pandyas.

It is said that the vault has been opened in 1931, where cobras came out. But, the question is how did the cobras survive so long without the basic necessities for so many years in the chamber? The snakes are fed by external people, or snakes have another way out to an unknown location. Maybe as per the ocean theory, the vault is connected to a confidential location through a secret tunnel, be it a forest or an ocean.