Mystery behind Padmanabhaswamy temple

What is the mystery behind the last 

door at Padmanabhaswamy temple?

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Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in 

Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal

family of Travancore. The Maharajahs of Travancore are Cheras and descendants of the great 

saint Kulashekhara Alwar.

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Replica

The Temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar. 

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital - Thiruvananthapuram.

 Among other things, the temple is famous for having a secret vault that no human can 

ever open easily. Let us now revisit the history of the temple and learn more about the 

mysterious door.

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Sleeping posture

The principal deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is enshrined in the "Anantha-sayanam" posture

(in the eternal sleep of Yoga-nidra on the serpent Anantha). The Maharajah of Travancore 

bears the title, "Sree Padmanabhadasa’ (Servant of Lord Padmanabha).

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Dress code

It is said that only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple.

Devotees have to strictly follow a dress code.

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Holy abode

The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) – principal centres of 

worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the 

early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Alvar saints (6th–9th centuries CE),

with structural additions to it made throughout the 16th century CE, when its ornate Gopuram 

was constructed.

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Serpent position

In the sanctum sanctorum, Sri Padmanabha reclines on the serpent Anantha or Adi 

Sesha. The serpent has five hoods facing inwards, signifying contemplation. The Lord's right 

hand is placed over a Shiva lingam.

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Goddess of prosperity

Sridevi, the Goddess of Prosperity and Bhudevi the Goddess of Earth, two consorts of Vishnu 

are by his side. Brahma emerges on a lotus, which emanates from the navel of the 

Lord. The deity is made from 12,000 saligramams.

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These saligrams

These saligrams are from the banks of the Gandaki River in Nepal, and to commemorate this 

certain rituals used to be performed at the Pashupatinath Temple. The deity of Sri 

Padmanabha is covered with, "Katusarkara yogam", a special ayurvedic mix, which forms a 

plaster that keeps the deity clean. The daily worship is with flowers and for the abhishekam,

special deities are used.

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Platforms

The platforms in front of the vimanam and where the deity rests, are both carved out of a 

single massive stone. The Deity is visible through three doors – the visage of the reclining 

Lord and Siva Linga underneath the hand is seen through the first door; Sridevi and Divakara 

Muni in Katusarkara,

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The name

The temple derives his name from the position of Brahma seated on a lotus emanating

from the Lord's navel.

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Secret chamber

Among the six kallaras or chambers in the Temple, Bharatakkon Kallara (Chamber B)

 is very closely associated with Sri Padmanabhaswamy. It is not a part of the Temple 

Treasury. The holy Chamber houses a Srichakram, an idol of Sri Padmanabha and 

many valuables meant to enhance the potency of the Principal Deity.

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Opening the vault

In 2011, the Supreme Court of India sent a seven member committee to the temple.

In the presence of the Head Trustee of Travencore Trust of Sri Anantha Padmanabha 

Swamy, the temple's six secret vaults were opened..

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Hidden treasure

When opened, the vault contained diamond jewellery, golden utensils, weapons,

golden idols, golden elephants idols and diamond necklaces having 500 kilograms 

weight and 18 feet length and bags full of golden coins of different nations.

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Vault names

For documentation purposes, these vaults have been designated as vaults A, B, C, D, E

and F. While the rest of the vaults are at least opened eight times in a year, the main vault 

is Vault B. This chamber is being considered by the Trust members and other learned 

astrologers of India, as a highly mysterious, sacred and risky and dangerous to unveil it.

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Secret chamber

The chamber B is considered to be fixed to the secret chamber with the ‘naga bandham’ 

or ‘naga paasam’ ‘mantras’ by the then ‘sidda purashas’ who lived during the reign 

of king marthandavarma in the 16th century.

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Who can open it?

It is said that a door of such a secret vault can be opened by a highly erudite ‘sadhu’ or 

‘mantrikas’ who are familiar with the knowledge of extricating ‘naga bandham’ or 

‘naga pasam’ by chanting a ‘garuda mantra'; so except in this way, the door can't be opened 

by any means by anyone.

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Human attempt

If any human attempts are made with man-made technology to open the mysterious 

Chamber-B other than by chanting highly sacred and powerful ‘GARUDA MANTRAS’

by a highly sacred ‘SADHUS’ or ‘MANTRIKAS’, catastrophes are likely to occur in

and around the Temple premises or through out India.

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How does it open?

It is said that chanting the Garuda Mantra by a powerful ‘SADHU’ or ‘YOGI’ proceeds

to automatically open the door and no human effort is needed to open it in any other way.

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Attempt to open it

It is said that Vedic Astrologers of India tried to open the door, once but they were unable

to do so.

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Chanting properly

It is said that If this mantra is chanted properly by some Sadhu, only then will the door 

open. Else, mighty serpents guarding the door will wreak havoc on those who try to open

the door.

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Padmanabhaswamy Temple and its ancient treasures

This ancient temple containing six hidden vaults has been shrouded in mystery – per the 

ancient legends there is a curse on those who try to defile the sacred site – it is believed 

that during the 1930s, temple hunters tried to invade the Temple but as soon as they did, humongous and deadly serpents came out of the hiding.

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What happened?

It is believed that attempts were made on Vault B to open it with man-made technology, 

however, it could only be opened with the help of chanting a Mantra. What does it 

exactly entail; is it true then that the Temple is protected by some Divine intervention? 

The origin of the Padmanabhaswamy temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

is lost in antiquity.

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Padmanabhaswamy Temple’s Heritage

Well, more than the heritage it is the legends of the temple that has been handed down for

centuries now – one is not allowed to enter the temple if they haven’t taken up Hinduism

as their only faith. Also, there is a strict dress code and one must follow it. The basic 

necessity being ultimate faith in Vishnu.

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Archaeological trip down the Vaults

In the year 2001, the Archaeologists entered the chamber Vaults with the help of Temple

 Priests. The vaults were labelled from A to F. What was found in Vault A, literally 

rendered the team speechless and star-struck – there were gold coins dating back to 

ancient times, gold necklaces as long as nine feet and weighing about 2.5 kg, there was 

almost 1 tonne gold in form of rice trinkets, sticks made of the yellow metal, sack full of 

diamonds, gold ropes and so much more.