For many years, Tirupati was known as the world’s richest temple, but in 2011, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala gained that title after its hidden treasures were revealed. The discovery amazed the world, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of our ancestors, their architectural brilliance, and the way temples were used to safeguard gold, jewels, and countless priceless treasures.
This temple is one of the most sacred temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here, the Lord is worshipped in his Ananta Shayana form – reclining on the serpent Ananta (Adi Shesha) with a lotus (Padma) rising from his navel. The temple is both a spiritual center of devotion and a treasure-filled monument of history. Its story blends legends, scriptures, royal traditions, and mysteries that have fascinated the world. For centuries, it has been the tutelary deity of the Travancore royal family, who consider themselves Padmanabha Dasa – humble servants of the Lord.
History of the Temple
The origins of Padmanabhaswamy Temple are linked to sacred legends. One famous story tells how the saint Vilwamangalam Swamiyar (Divakara Muni) had a vision of Lord Vishnu reclining on Ananta under a banyan tree. Another tale speaks of a divine child protected by a five-headed serpent, later revealed as the Lord himself.
The temple is praised in the Tamil Divya Prabandham, where the saint Nammalvar (8th–9th century) composed hymns for the reclining Lord. References in ancient works like the Silappatikaram (5th–6th century) and temple inscriptions from the 11th and 14th centuries show that worship has continued here for more than a thousand years.
In 1686, a fire destroyed much of the shrine, but in 1729, King Marthanda Varma of Travancore rebuilt it on a grand scale. He completed the sanctum, the temple walls, and the great eastern gopuram (tower). In 1750, Marthanda Varma performed the Thrippadidanam ritual, dedicating his kingdom to Lord Padmanabha. From that day, the royal family ruled only as servants of the Lord, and all the wealth of the kingdom was considered His offering.
Even in modern times, this tradition continued. In 1965, the last ruler, Sree Chithira Thirunal, set up a Temple Trust to protect and manage offerings. To this day, the Travancore royal family preserves the temple’s sanctity.
Architectural Heritage
Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a unique blend of Dravidian and Kerala temple architecture.
The temple covers around 7 acres, enclosed by tall laterite walls.
- Its eastern entrance is a massive gopuram (tower), decorated with carvings. On the equinox days, the rising sun shines through its windows, filling the temple with light.
- Inside are stone-pillared halls, carved wooden ceilings with lotus and serpent motifs, and murals of Vishnu’s incarnations.
At the heart of the temple lies the sanctum sanctorum, with the 18-foot idol of Lord Padmanabha. The idol is made from 12,008 shaligrama stones brought from Nepal and coated in a special herbal plaster. The reclining deity is flanked by Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Bhudevi.
Devotees view the idol through three golden doors – the first shows His head, the second His arms, and the third His feet. This arrangement protects the sacred coating on the idol.
The temple also has a single-stone mandapam (Ottakkal Mandapam), a golden flagstaff, sacred ponds like Padmatheertham, and smaller shrines for Lord Ganapati, Krishna, and Ayyappa.
Key Events in History
Several turning points define the temple’s history:
- 1750 – Thrippadidanam: King Marthanda Varma dedicates his kingdom to Lord Padmanabha. From then on the Travancore kings ruled only as Padmanabha Dasa.
- 1947 – After Independence: The royal family continues as custodians of the temple.
- 1965 – Temple Trust: Sree Chithira Thirunal creates a trust to manage the temple’s wealth and rituals.
- 2011 – Opening of Vaults: Following a Supreme Court order, five underground vaults were opened, revealing treasures worth billions of rupees. The discovery stunned the world with golden idols, jewel-encrusted crowns, gem-studded ornaments, and rare coins.
- 2020 – Supreme Court Ruling: The court confirmed that the Travancore royal family remains the rightful custodians of the temple.
Mysteries and Unknown Facts
The greatest mystery of Padmanabhaswamy Temple is Vault B, one of the sealed underground chambers. Unlike the other vaults, Vault B was never opened due to strong beliefs that it is protected by divine powers. Tradition warns that breaking its locks could bring disaster.
Some believe it may hold treasures far greater than those already found – perhaps worth trillions of dollars. Others see it as a sacred chamber that should never be disturbed. Even the Supreme Court respected this faith and ordered it to remain sealed.
The five opened vaults revealed breathtaking items: gold idols, gem-studded thrones, 18-foot chains of gold, thousands of coins (Roman, Venetian, Napoleonic), ceremonial robes, and crowns. Witnesses described entering dark rooms where the treasures glittered “like stars in a moonless night.”
Because of this immense wealth, the temple now has high-security systems: armed guards, CCTV cameras, metal detectors, baggage scanners, blast-proof walls, and even seismic sensors. Still, devotees believe that the greatest protection comes from the Lord Himself.
Vaults and Treasures
The temple has six main vaults – A, B, C, D, E, and F.
- Vault A – The richest, containing a solid-gold idol of Vishnu, a golden throne, long chains of gold, sacks of coins, and rare gems.
- Vault B – Still unopened, believed to hold sacred and possibly greater treasures.
- Vaults C, D, E, F – Contained thousands of coins, jewelry, gold robes, and other ritual items. Some of these ornaments are still used during temple festivals before being returned to the vaults.
- The treasures remain offerings to the Lord, not possessions of any individual.
Festivals of the Temple
Padmanabhaswamy Temple celebrates two grand annual festivals:
- Alpashi Utsavam (Oct/Nov)
- Panguni (Painkuni) Utsavam (Mar/Apr)
- Both last ten days and feature grand processions, rituals, and cultural programs.
- Every day, the deities are taken out on different Vahanams (divine vehicles) like Garuda, Simha (lion), Anantha (serpent), Kamala (lotus), and Pallakku (palanquin).
- On the second-last day comes the Pallivetta (royal hunt) ritual, symbolizing the Lord destroying evil.
The festival ends with the Arattu, a ceremonial sea-bath at Shanghumugham Beach. The idols are carried in a spectacular procession, led by the head of the royal family with his sword, and bathed in the sea to bless the land and people.
Traditional arts like Kathakali, Ottamthullal, and temple music fill the atmosphere during these days. Thousands of devotees gather, chanting prayers and joining the celebrations.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple is more than a place of worship. It is a sacred space where myth, history, devotion, art, and mystery come together. Its timeless architecture, royal traditions, hidden treasures, and vibrant festivals make it one of the greatest temples in India and the world.
