Unbelievable Facts And Mysteries Of Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, the Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is among the most sacred Hindu temples in the world. Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who has been enshrined in 'Anantha Shayana' posture. The temple is managed and controlled by erstwhile Travancore royal family. The main temple deity Padmanabhaswamy is the tutelary deity of the Travancore royal family, currently headed by titular Maharaja of Travancore, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma.

Every year, thousands of devotees visit the holy temple of Shree Padmanabhaswamy. Its rich history and intricate architecture are unparalleled. There are also quite a few amazing things about Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple that not many people know. For better understanding, here is a look at some of the interesting facts and mysteries of Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Richest religious center in the world - Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is probably the richest religious center in the world. It is said that the temple's wealth has been generated over a period of thousands of years. It was created through donations and gifts received from devotees, kings, traders and businesspersons.

There are vaults inside the temple full of golden artifacts, golden coins, golden crowns and ornaments, precious stones and diamonds. There are a total of 8 vaults - named A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. In vaults C, D, E and F that have been opened, the treasures include 4x3 ft. solid gold idol of Mahavishnu, solid gold throne, 30 kg golden anki, thousands of pure gold chains, 500 kg pure gold sheaf, 36 kg golden veil, thousands of gold coins, gold coconut shells and thousands of gold coins of Roman Empire

Mysterious vault B and unopened G and H vaults- While other vaults have been opened and assessed as per Supreme Court order, vault B has not been opened since at least 1880s. The Supreme Court has exempted opening of vault B based on religious grounds. It is considered that opening vault B will bring significant misfortune. The vault has the image of cobra on it, which represents danger to anyone trying to access it. Till date, it remains a mystery as to what could be hidden in vault B. Could vault B of Padmanabhaswamy Temple hold more treasures or it is something entirely different such as a spaceship or alien technology. A similar set of questions arise for vault G and H that also remain unopened.

Older than Pyramids - According to some historians, it is believed that the temple of Sree Padmanabhaswamy was established on the first day of Kali Yuga. It is estimated to be around 5,000 years old. The temple has undergone changes several times. Descriptions of the temple have been found in several ancient texts. This makes the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple even older than the Egyptian Pyramids.

Dravidian architecture - While other temples in Kerala have the signature sloping roof, Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple has Dravidian architecture. It can be seen in its high walls, tall gopuram and intricate carvings.

Nepal connection - The main deity Padmanabha is constructed using 12,008 saligramams. These saligramams have been sourced from the banks of the Gandaki River, which is a major river in Nepal. Specific rituals are performed at the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal to commemorate its link with the Shree Padmanabha temple.