9 Interesting and Unknown Facts About Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple located in the state Kerala, Thiruvanthapuram which means “The city of Lord Ananta”. This holy shrine is built in a complex fusion of Chera style and Dravidian style of architecture that features complex framework of high walls and 16^th century Gopura. The predominant deity of the temple Sree Padmanabhaswamy (Lord Vishnu) is enshrined in “Anantha Shayana” posture, which is actually considered as a deep eternal yogic sleep on the interminable serpent “Adi Shesha” according to the experts of Vedas and Puranas. This temple attracts millions of visitors and devotees every year. This temple is not just one of the oldest temples in India, but also one of the richest.

The principal deity of the temple is unique because Lord Vishnu was crowned as the emperor of Travancore in the 18^th century, which is the reason why the crown of Travancore has been preserved and worshipped inside the temple. This temple has gained lot of attraction and visitors because of its interesting and unbelievable facts that we will share in this article.

Here are the unknown facts about Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple:

1. The predominant deity’s image in the temple is actually the fossilized shells.

The temple has an image of Lord Vishnu which is depicted with 12,000 actual fossilized shells or shallgramas of Gandaki River brought from Nepal.

2. The richest temple in the world is Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

The temple’s treasures worth a $ 1 trillion which makes it world’s richest temple. The vaults where the treasures have accumulated, is under the surveillance of government. Such a treasure can’t be left without oversight; hence Supreme Court ordered an inventory.

3. Out of five chambers, chamber B of temple is cursed and has no access.

The temple has 5 chambers, out of which the Chamber B is cursed and is inaccessible. And opening the vault will invite the disaster to the invader and the entire state is believed by the caretakers of the temple as well as the vaults. It is believed that ages ago, sages of high skills and stature had secured that one portal with Naagapaasam mantras (serpent noose ritual) during the rule of King Marthanda Varma. One the sages with high caliber and stature can remove the Naagapaasam lock by enchanting Garuda mantra in its proper way.

4. The temple hosts Laksha Deepam festival.

Laksha Deepam Festival is celebrated once in every 6 years in the month of January and is the biggest festival of the temple. The name of the festival is given Laksha Deepam because on the day of Makar Sankranti, 1 lacs of earthen lamps are lightened up inside the temple and the premises as well which is an interesting fact about Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.

5. The temple has a dress code for their devotees.

Not only the richest temple, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is also the strictest temple when it comes to following culture, tradition, norms and rules. The temple has its own dress code for men and women. For men, dhoti or mundu is compulsory when you visit the temple and for women saree or mundum neriyatham, skirt and blouse or half saree is must. Violators are strictly penalized.

6. The temple has a 3 ½ feet of golden statue.

There is a statue of Lord Vishnu in the chamber which weight 30 kilos and is 3 and a half feet tall. And the idol inside the temple is 18 feet long that can be viewed through 3 different doors which is quite an unknown fact about Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

7. The temple is provided Z security 24×7.

The temple has been provided Z level security by the Supreme Court 24×7 for 365 days with foolproof plans because of its colossal treasure inside the vaults. The special security is ensured with armed forces and special commanders.

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8. The temple is mentioned in Puranas as a shrine.

The temple Sree Padmanabhaswamy is clearly mention in Matsya Purana, Brahma Purana, Bhagavatha Purana, Varaha Purana and Mahabharata as a shrine. According to these puranas especially Bhagavad Gita, Balarama visited the temple to pay his respects to the Lord Vishnu. Later in 950^th year of Kaliyuga, the deity was reinstalled in the shrine.

9. Summer equinox can be experienced through Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple.

The shrine or temple’s Gopuram is designed in such an intricate and magical way that during summer equinox, the sun sets, going down exactly through the center of Gopuram. Hence the golden rays of sun radiate out through the middle doors passing precisely through the temple’s center vertical line. It’s an ultimate magical view that is so well designed.