Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, the richest Temple/Religious Centre in the World.

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Source : Malayala Manorama

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Marthanda Varma, the eldest member of the Travancore royal family spoke to CNN-IBN in an exclusive interview on all the treasure that was unearthed at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. He feels it should not become such a huge topic of discussion.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: The world is talking about the developments in an ancient temple called Sree Padmnabhaswamy Temple located at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. We have with us Marthanada Varma Thampuran - representative of the Travencore Royal Family - the custodians of this particular temple...Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN.

Thank you very much for speaking to us.

Our country has a long history about invasions and then later how we were plundered by these invaders. Do you believe that the rulers in South India like the Travancore Kings were a step ahead in protecting its people and its wealth?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: In the South we have been more fortunate. Stronger invasions were in the North. We had mainly trade. We used to trade and supply materials even to Cleopatra. We also had wars. But we were a step ahead. Near the temple there is a bazaar now. A university was situated there then. In the BC era we had education and arms training there. All the other kings - Pandyas, Cholas wanted to know how to defeat us. They said it was because of the university. They came and broke it. Then they wondered how we have this extra capacity. They were told because of the temple. They came to break it but surrendered before the Lord.

My ancestor in 1750 after conquering Venad, it became Travancore, dedicated.the state to Lord Padmnabha. It was called Thiruppadi Dhanam - offering at the sacred step of the Lord. And he ruled the state as his servant. Now as a tourist gimmick we call the state God's own country, everything is his creation only.

Dakshina Muraleedharan:Your counsel told the Supreme Court last week that the royal family does not have any claim on the wealth. Everything is the Lord's property. Help us understand this statement.

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: I am wearing a dhoti... this comes from cotton.. cotton comes from the earth.. where did the earth come from... from God. Everything belongs to him. We are only people who have the privilege of using what he has been gracious enough to give. That we are forgetting…Many inhibitions that other people have we did not have. It was just service.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: There is a lot of public debate on the development in the temple. Are you saddened or surprised by this variety of opinions pouring in?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: No Comment because that is for everybody to assess... I am as human as everybody else is. And If that which you hold in veneration is now become a subject of chit chat I can't understand it.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: So you are saying that the matter is subjudice. You will wait for the Supreme Court verdict on this and then express your opinion?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: Yes then I will say. Whatever the decision is then I am free to say. Now whatever I say would be coloured in some way by everybody. That I don't want.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: The world is awestruck by the revelations in the temple. But the royal family does not seem to be surprised at all. Why is that?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: It has been our fortune that we were able to serve. So there is no surprise. Only that we are surprised that other people are surprised.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: Any message that you want to give to the devotees of Sree Padmnabha around the world?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: If you are a devotee increase your devotion. Don't waste time on unnecessary debate.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: The royal family including yourself are known for your generosity. There is an opinion that atleast a percentage of the wealth should be taken outside the temple and spent on social cause. How would you react to that?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: That comes to thin ice. I won't comment. Its still in the court. I won't say anything now.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: Does this revelation throw light on the history of South India or the history of the Travancore royal family?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: Let the Supreme Court decide on that in their own way. The easier way, the comfortable way or the hard way.

Dakshina Muraleedharan: People are also surprised at the fact that this was preserved so well by our erstwhile kings. But its not the same world anymore. Are you like many others concerned about security?

Marthanada Varma Thampuran: Ofcourse security is a necessity. Even at home you need security. When you make people understand... People who are not thinking about anything else other than their body... Know of these things... There is a grave responsibility... And that I believe are being seen to by the right people... In the right way.

Source

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stupendous valuables discovered deep inside the dark-ridden vaults of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple have infused an air of vigil and activity in the temple. Ever since the tale of treasures crossed borders, the temple has been witnessing a steady inflow of people, which, to some of the local men, is unusual at this point of time.

The revelation of treasures has fortified the temple stronger than ever before. At every corner of the temple can be seen armed policemen and commandos warily filtering every single soul frequenting the temple.

However, the change of air has in no way altered the mood of those who reside on the purlieu of the temple. Without any concerns and complaints, they continue to leave everything to the will of Lord Padmanabha. They are vague about the possibility of an eviction. They are unruffled by the sudden presence of khaki-men everywhere. ‘’These are all affairs related to temple and government. Why should we be over-bothered about all such things?’’ asks Sasidharan, who carves wooden idols of gods in a small building close to the temple.

Saraswathy, who has always been a devout of Padmanabha since her childhood, says that she has not even thought about the possibility of having to go away from the proximity of God.

‘’This is where I was born and grew up. All these treasures that you are talking about have always been there in the temple. Just because it is revealed, our lives are not going to change. We don’t even talk about eviction. Should we have to do that?’’ wonders Saraswathy, who sells banana chips in front of the temple. She is also glad that the unexpected influx of tourists has boosted her business, which, otherwise, is on a lull during monsoon.

The local people and some of the oldest devouts residing in and around the temple premises are not at all grumpy about the securitymen. ‘’How could the presence of securitymen affect the ambience of the temple? They are here because of their duty. We have absolutely no complaints about the security measures.

We know they are here to guard the temple and we are only happy to let them do their job,’’ says Jalaja, a housewife.

Source

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Kerala Government denies the need of central forces for Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple's security.

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress )-led UDF Government today said the huge wealth found from the cellars of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here was the asset of the shrine and could not be termed a 'treasure trove'.

The statement, by Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar in the Assembly, came in the wake of some quarters arguing that the assets would come under the definition of 'trove' and the state should take over it under the Kerala Treasure Trove Act.

"You repeatedly describe it as 'nidhi' (treasure trove). It is the wealth of the temple," Sivakumar replied to a question by former home minister and CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan .

He said foolproof security had been provided to the temple with personnel drawn from police, Rapid Action Force and State Commando Force. The government would bear all costs for the safety of the invaluable wealth in the cellars, he said in reply to a question from Palode Ravi (Congress).

A total of 53 security personnel have been positioned inside the temple and another 74 outside the shrine. The entire security was under control of ADGP Venugoplan K Nair, the Minister said.

Referring to reports on the value of assets found in the temple, Sivakumar said the temple was now the richest one in India. He also said that flow of devotees had increased significantly following the discovery of the valuables.

The invaluable articles found during an inventory included rare jewels, stone-studded crowns, heaps of gold and silver coins, idols and gold, silver and brass platters and lamps, whose value is estimated at nearly Rs one lakh crore.

Source

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Metro Manorma



Kerala Kaumudi

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A view of the ‘gopuram' at the eastern side of the
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.

Concerns over the security provided to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the State capital were raised in the Assembly on Tuesday in the wake of several chain-snatching incidents in the precincts of the temple where huge treasures were recently found stored in subterranean chambers.

The security concerns were brought to the notice of the House by the former Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishan who intervened during a short-notice question raised by Palode Ravi.

Media reports

Mr. Balakrishnan said the media had reported that four chain-snatching incidents had occurred within 12 hours near the temple premises on Monday.

The government said it had provided adequate security to the temple but the security was appallingly bad, he said. Mr. Balakrishnan asked whether the security zone as announced by the government had come into effect.

Minister for Devaswom and Transport V.S. Sivakumar said elaborate security arrangements had been provided at the temple. A team of officials led by Additional Director-General of Police Venugopal K. Nair had been entrusted with the task. A committee headed by Mr. Nair and comprising the ADGP (Intelligence), IGP (Intelligence) and IGP (South Zone) had been asked to submit a detailed report to the government on providing fool-proof security cover to the temple.

State's responsibility

Mr. Sivakumar said the examination of the temple vaults by a Supreme Court-appointed committee had not been completed. The Chief Minister had made it clear that the temple's security would be the responsibility of the State. The State was willing to meet all the financial commitments for that.

He said the State police had deployed 53 policemen inside the temple in three shifts and another 74 outside, also in three shifts. A 24-hour control room had been set up at adjacent to the Fort police station. A 10-member telecommunication wing had also been set up.

Earlier, Mr. Ravi urged the State government to request the Union government to declare the temple a national pilgrimage centre. He also urged the State to ask the Centre to provide the services of military personnel for the temple security.

Source

[navjot]

An old pic of Padmanabhaswamy temple..

hotograph taken about 1900 by the Government photographer, Zacharias D'Cruz of a view of the Public Offices in Trivandrum, in the erstwhile Travancore . It is one of 76 prints in an album entitled 'Album of South Indian Views' of the Curzon Collection





Dunno whether this pic was posted earlier

[nandan_ks]

Can you guys please provide a brief translation if the news bit is in Malayalam ,

Thanks

[ajithv]

The head of a former royal family renounced any personal claim to billions of dollars' worth of ancient treasure discovered in a temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the kingdom his ancestors once ruled. Padma Rao Sundarji speaks to Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the former King of Tranvancore.

PRS:What is your family's connection with the Padmanabhaswamy temple?
Varma: We are the Cheras, one of the four erstwhile royal families of South India and have a long and dynastic family tree. By 1750 Travancore had become rich and big. So my ancestor, the then king, made a unique spiritual and historical contribution. He decided to surrender all his riches to the temple - Padmanabhaswamy is also our family deity. He said our family would look after that wealth, the temple and the kingdom forever. But he did want the ego that comes with possessing it. He was influenced by Emperor Ashoka's catharsis in the killing fields of Kalinga. So he declared our family to be Padmanabha's 'dasas', devotees. A servant can resign his job, but a dasa can do so only when he dies.

PRS: You are one of the wealthiest families in India and yet, you live in a spartan way, unlike many other ex-royals. Why?
Varma: I have to go back a bit in time, to explain why. Everybody thinks that we Indians first rose against British colonial rule in 1857. Wrong. In 1741, Travancore was the only Asian power to defeat the Dutch when they arrived here. After the battle, all the Dutch soldiers kneeled before my ancestors. One Dutchman, Benedictus Eustachius, even joined our army. We called him the Great Kapitan. Later, I learned that he was [US president] Franklin Roosevelt's ancestor when the latter's grandson came to look at our historical records.

Then in 1839, almost two decades before the mutiny, we rose against the British. Our punishment was severe. They disbanded our police and army of 50,000, transferred our capital to Kollam, dumped two British regiments on us, and ordered us to pay for their upkeep. Thomas Munroe named himself Diwan of Travancore. When our spirit still did not flag, they brought in missionaries. But we did not get gobbled up by Western thought. We travel abroad occasionally, but it has not affected or changed our simple way of life. Why am I telling you this? So that you get an idea of how much our life has revolved around our faith, despite so many outside influences and kept us going.

PRS: How do you feel about what is happening around the temple right now - its cellars being opened up, your donations being discussed around the world, the criticism, the furore?
Varma: Sorry, I cannot comment on what is happening there - the matter is sub-judice. But this much I will say. I have no problem with the inventory and additional security being provided by the state to the temple. But please don't remove those objects from the temple. They belong to nobody, certainly not to our family. They belong to god and our law permits that. All these debates swirling around the riches is unfortunate. That's all I can say - I have to listen to my doctor, lawyer and auditor. Our family has been donating objects to the temple for centuries. As chief patron of the temple, I go there every day. If I miss a day, I am fined Rs 166.35 - an old Travancore tradition.

PRS: But you cannot deny that such wealth could be put to better use for the poor.
Varma: We Indians are more educated now. But this reaction to donations inside a temple is anything but progressive. We are slowly losing our Indian identity. Money has become everything. But I am not surprised. I would rather be philosophical than disillusioned because I can't change the world.

PRS: Then there is the rationalist argument that this is blind faith.
Varma: Please think of England's Henry VIII in the late 1500s. He had two passions. Wives and money. So he pillaged churches. Finally, he ran into a problem because he wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The church refused, because she was a zealous Spanish Catholic. His cardinal advised him to invent his own church. So he did that - just to get a divorce. Is that rational?
It is rather difficult to explain our faith to the new world where people have none anymore. When selfishness grows, everything you do seems right, and everything others do seems wrong. It's all about what do I get, not about what do I do. I like the memory of my trip to a game reserve South Africa. After seeing many wild animals, I asked the guide which was the most rapacious and fearsome. He showed me a mirror.

PRS: What is your source of income? What does your family live off ?
Varma: We have travel and hotel businesses. I am chairman of a former British company that exports various items from Kerala - but no, not pepper to Buckingham Palace, as reported. We also run seven trusts. We spend R5-8 lakh a year on education, health and housing for the poor. We pay good salaries. And the family itself contributes money every month. No government has acknowledged our work but that is all right. We do it because we want to do it.

PRS: Gold statues studded with rubies and diamonds, saphhires, gold coins of the Napoleonic era and the East India Company. Is all that true?
Varma: I have never been inside those cellars. Our philosophy has always been not to look at such objects and get tempted. But of course I know what is inside them.

PRS: Are the younger members of your family angrier than you about the heated public debate?
Varma: I am the most hot-blooded in this family but on this matter, we all feel the same. I was a soldier - a colonel for 15 years in the Madras Regiment. I would like to ask those criticizing us for donating these objects: why are they bothered about what someone else has done? What are they doing in the name of faith themselves ? Why the hot gossip over a donation to God?

PRS: At 90, you don't even use a walking stick. What is your daily routine ?
Varma: We have all been brought up very strictly and frugally. My day starts at 4 am with yoga. I only drink milk, I am a vegetarian and a teetotaler. I read the Vedas everyday. I go the temple for a ten-minute private audience with the deity every morning. After that, I indulge in one of my hobbies - "media surgery." I read the newspapers and clip articles over breakfast. I have a collection of the past 30 years. I will give those to the Trust because my children may not be interested. People come to meet me, they invite me to inaugurate functions. I speak extempore. I go from vertical to horizontal for about 20 minutes in the afternoon. I am in bed by 945. I have always slept well. Since there is nothing on my conscience, sleep comes swiftly.

PRS: Are you now thinking of insuring those treasures, now that the whole world is talking about them, or are they already insured ?
Varma: (laughs) I am least worried that they will be stolen. If that happens, then it was the Lord's will.

PRS: Among your ancestors were famous Carnatic musician Swati Thirunal and painter Raja Ravi Varma. What are your passions?
Varma: Those two ancestors gave music and art divinity and humanity respectively. That continues. I love art. I once saw a piece of exquisite china in Venice. It was a girl on a swing with the sand looking worn just where her feet touched the ground each time. It cost 100 pounds, I could only afford 40, as foreign exchange was limited those days. So I went away. The dealer called me back and gave it to me. He said he could tell that I was not one of those who ordered 200 pieces of one kind, that I valued minute details.

PRS: Kerala has been a Communist bastion for more than 50 years. Don't you find it peculiar that people here still flurry around you, they respect you, they still call you Your Highness.
Varma: Yes, that is quite amazing because I am a simple man, I don't expect it at all. At religious gatherings in Haridwar where one of my two gurus lives, I always sit in the last row and am always dressed like this - mundu and bush-shirt. People who don't know me come looking for the Raja of the South. When I raise my hand, they don't believe me.

PRS: How wealthy is your family, compared to the other - and internationally more famous - royals of Rajasthan and elsewhere?
Varma: That is a mere technicality and has never been relevant to me. But I'll tell you a story which will give you an idea. There used to be a British gun salute for the princely states of India: 21, the highest for the richest ruler, 11 for the poorest. When Tranvancore refused to contribute soldiers to the British Army in World War I, our slipped from 21 to 19.

PRS: Who is your heir?
Varma: We have a matriarchal system of inheritance. I have a daughter and a son but it is my sister's son who will be king after me. I remember a European lady visiting us. I explained this complicated law of succession to her. When she went back, she told her friends that she had not understood a word, but only knew that whatever it was, it was good for women. Kerala is slowly turning patriarchal again. That is not good. Overall in our country, we treat women as second-class citizens. When you look at a man, you are looking at a human being, when you look at a woman, you are looking at a family.

PRS: What is the feeling you get, when you spend those ten minutes at the Padmanabha shrine ? The daily communion between ruler and master, as you put it ?
Varma: Gooseflesh. Everything is surrendered. It is a great, elating feeling. My hair stands on end with joy. Each and every time.

(Padma Rao Sundarji is South Asia bureau chief of Der Spiegel)

Source : Hindustan Times

[Ajaypp]

May I request the Mods to clean up the thread title?

Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple | Religious Complex may be appropriate. Thanks.

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The number of devotees is increasing day by day in Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple



Kaumudi City

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http://www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.com/



Note:-Its not an official one

[ajithv]

• The Temple are should be made "High Security Area" : Police Report
• The counting of devotees coming to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be taken today

Source : Kerala Kaumudi



Source : Malayala Manorama

• The "Treasure" should be kept in the temple itself and Govt. will inform this to the Supreme Court on Friday

• The "Teasure" belongs to the temple : Govt.

Source : Mathrubhumi

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• The number of devotees visiting the Ananda Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Undavalli village of Guntur in AP is increasing after the news of unearthing of the"Treasure" at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.

Source : Mathrubhumi

Padmanabha cave temple in Guntur under threat

UNDAVALLI (Guntur): With unearthing of the gold and diamond ornaments at Ananta Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, a cave temple of Ananta Padmanabhaswamy in Undavalli has gained prominence. However, miscreants hoping to find hidden wealth, are proving to be a threat to its existence.

People visiting in large numbers to the Undavalli caves are therefore urging authorities to provide proper security at the temple.

K Eswara Reddy, a local said proper research should be done on the caves as there was a threat to the temple, on the belief of hidden treasure in the caves.

The cave temple, said to be built during the reign of of Chalukyas in the 6th or 7th century, has a single stone 25-feet long and five feet wide Ananta Padmanabhaswamy idol on the second floor of the four-storeyed temple. Former sarpanch of Undavalli Jonna Sivasankara Rao said, “The caves were taken over by the archaeology department in 1958,” the sarpanch said.

Prof P Ramalakshmi, head of archaeology department, Acharya Nagarjuna University said there was no chance of hidden treasures in the cave shrine, as it had no patronage.

“As the Thiruvananthapuram temple had continuous patronage of kings for centuries, the hidden treasures were unearthed,” she added. She said the caves belong to the reign of Vishnukundin.

“The precious idols should not be defaced in name of a treasure hunt and necessary protection arranged for the temple,” Ramalakshmi observed.
Source

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The revelations that have followed the inventory preparation of the articles inside the chambers in Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple are like a Pandora’s box opened. It has posed a severe security threat to the temple and the premises, for which immediate action must be taken by the State Government, the Thiruvananthapuram Citizens’ Protection Forum has said.

At the meeting, the members said that the pious atmosphere of the temple has been diluted by the recent happenings. The treasure that was stored and preserved in the chambers for centuries must remain there itself.

The meeting said that the covenant prepared by the Centre and Travancore’s last king Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma has no legal sanctity anymore. The state has not declared the temple as its heritage asset yet. Hence, transferring the assets of the temple to any museum, whether state-run or a National museum, is condemnable.

The running of the temple must be devoid of any politics. The Forum pointed out that in the case of other religious institutions, there is no meddling of outsiders or politicians. So the trend of including politicians in the running of temples must be stopped. The existence of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple Employees Union (CITU) is a glaring example of this.

The presence of high rises near the temple also poses a threat to the temple’s security, the Forum said. It also said that incompetent police personnel must be kept away from the temple security.

The way chain-snatchings were reported in the temple the other day is testimony to this.

Source

[Tri Man]

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[Tri Man]

Originally Posted by ajithv

• The Temple are should be made "High Security Area" : Police Report
• The counting of devotees coming to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be taken today

Source : Kerala Kaumudi

• The "Teasure" belongs to the temple : Govt.

Source : Mathrubhumi

Government / temple trust should seek technical help from Tirupathi Dewaswom,Siddhi Vinayak Temple and Mahalaxmi Temple,Mumbai while planning for hightech security to the temple.

[ajithv]

July 13: Multi-layer security comprising sophisticated gadgets and armed policemen and incurring a cost of about Rs30 crore has been proposed for the priceless wealth in the vaults of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.

Additional DGP (administration) Venugopal K. Nair submitted a detailed security plan on Wednesday to additional chief secretary (home) K. Jayakumar. The implementation of the plan, however, was subject to Supreme Court directions and further discussions with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, sources said. The plan has been prepared taking into account the opinion of the temple authorities. The emphasis is on minimising inconvenience to devotees.

Police sources said aerial surveillance with the support of satellite images was also explored. Cops have already recommended to the government to notify the area around the temple as special security zone by invoking provisions of Kerala Police Act. ADGP has also suggested relocating certain residences and shops close to the temple.

Source