PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE
Padmanabhaswamy temple is located inThiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Dravidian style (kovil) of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century Gopuram.While theMoolasthanam of the temple is theAnanthapuram Temple in Kasargod, architecturally to some extent, the temple is a replica of the Adikesava Perumal templelocated in Kanyakumari District.It is the richest Hindu temple in the world. In terms of gold assets and precious stones, it is by far the wealthiest institution and place of worship of any kind in the recorded history of the world, with an estimated $22 billion worth of gold and jewels stored in underground vaults (not accounting for historical value). At the time of writing, only 5 of the 8 underground vaults had been opened and explored.
The principal deity Vishnu is enshrined in the "Anantha Shayanam" posture, the eternalyogic sleep on the serpent Adisheshan. Sree Padmanabhaswamy is the tutelary deity of the royal family of Travancore. The titularMaharaja of Travancore Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the trustee of the temple as Sree Padmanabhadasa, the slave of Lord Padmanabha. In line with the Temple Entry Proclamation, only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple and devotees have to strictly follow the dress code.
PADMAPRIYA I
Padmanabhaswamy temple is located inThiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Dravidian style (kovil) of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century Gopuram.While theMoolasthanam of the temple is theAnanthapuram Temple in Kasargod, architecturally to some extent, the temple is a replica of the Adikesava Perumal templelocated in Kanyakumari District.It is the richest Hindu temple in the world. In terms of gold assets and precious stones, it is by far the wealthiest institution and place of worship of any kind in the recorded history of the world, with an estimated $22 billion worth of gold and jewels stored in underground vaults (not accounting for historical value). At the time of writing, only 5 of the 8 underground vaults had been opened and explored.
The principal deity Vishnu is enshrined in the "Anantha Shayanam" posture, the eternalyogic sleep on the serpent Adisheshan. Sree Padmanabhaswamy is the tutelary deity of the royal family of Travancore. The titularMaharaja of Travancore Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the trustee of the temple as Sree Padmanabhadasa, the slave of Lord Padmanabha. In line with the Temple Entry Proclamation, only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple and devotees have to strictly follow the dress code.
PADMAPRIYA I
Aesthetics and architecture:
ReplyDeleteThe temple architecture stands out for its work in stone and bronze.The interiors are adorned by beautiful paintings and murals.Some o them are that of the life-size images of lord Vishnu in the reclining posture,Narasimha swamy,Lord Ganapati and Gaja Lakshmi.The temple has a DHWAJA STAMBA thet is about 80 ft high and is covered with gold plated copper sheets.
The temple also has some interesting structural features in the form of BALI PEEDA MANDAPAM and MUKHA MANDAPAM. These are halls,decorated with beautiful sculptures of various Hindu dieties. Another structure that captures attention here is the NAVAGRAHA MANDAPA the cieling of which diaplays the NAVAGRAHAS.
Board corridor with 365 and 1/4 sculptured granite stone pollars extended from the eastern side into the sanctom sanctorum. There is a ground floor below under the main entrance in the eastern side, which is known as NATAKA SALA , where Kerala's classical art form-the Kathakali is performed during the annual ten day festival at the temple, held during the Malayalam months of MEENAM and THULAM
-Chandra Kala J N.
Several extant Hindu Texts like the Brahma Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, Vayu Purana, Bhagavata Purana and the Mahabharata mention this shrine.[12] The Temple has been referred to in the (only recorded) Sangam Period of literature between 500 B.C and 300 A.D several times.One of the temple records states that the temple was founded on the 964 day after the kaliyuga started by Divakara muni who was a tulu brahmin (During the start of kaliyuga in parashurama kshetra the tulunad brahmins means Sthanika tulu brahmins). Many conventional historians and scholars are of the opinion that one of the names that the Temple had - "The Golden Temple" - literally was in cognizance of the fact that the Temple was already unimaginably wealthy by that point.[13][14][15] Many extant pieces of Sangam Tamil literature and poetry, and even the later works of Ninth Century poet-saints like Nammalwar, refer to the Temple and even the city as having walls of pure gold. At some places, both the Temple and the entire city are often eulogized even as being made of gold, and the Temple as Heaven.
ReplyDeleteN.Savitha
Among the six vaults in the temple, Vault/ "Kallarai" B is very closely associated with Lord Sree Padmanabha and is not part of the Temple Treasury. On the orders of Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the outermost ante-chamber of Kallara B was opened in 1931. In 2011, it was opened by the Observers appointed by the Supreme Court of India. But the Observers did not open the inner chamber which possibly houses a Srichakram, an idol of Padmanabha and countless valuables meant to enhance the potency of the Presiding Deity. Moreover, Devas, Rishis and Kanjirottu Yakshi reside in the inner chamber worshipping the Supreme Lord.The enchanting and ferocious forms of Kanjirottu Yakshi are painted on the south-west part of the main Sanctum. Lord Ugra Narasimha of Thekkedom is believed to be the Protector of Vault B. There is a serpent's image on Kallara B indicating danger to anyone who opens it. A four-day Ashtamangala Devaprasnam conducted in August 2011 declared the inner chamber of Kallara B as forbidden territory
ReplyDeleteEmily Gilchrist Hatch, who was in Trivandrum in 1933, recalls in her book-deepa