Divine Mysteries : Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the case of mysterious Vault
Kerala’s Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple like all hidden treasure stories, has captured the India’s fascination for many years. A tale shrouded in mystery and fear. Two enormous Cobras are rumoured to be protecting the innermost hidden chamber. To make matters worse, legend has it that anyone who opens the vault will be met with disastrous results. Let us now revisit the history of the temple and learn more about the mysterious door.
Padmanabhaswamy temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital – Thiruvananthapuram. This ancient mysterious temple containing six vaults has long been shrouded in mystery. According to an ancient legend, there is an ancient curse on those who defile the sacred site. In the 1930s, treasure hunters tried to open the temple, and as soon as they did, deadly serpents emerged from one of the vaults. Was the place really cursed?
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It was said that many attempts to open the mysterious vault B with man-made technology will result in catastrophes that will occur in and around the temple. Vault B must not be open other than by chanting. The origin of the Padmanabhaswamy temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India is lost in antiquity. It is impossible to determine exactly, from any reliable historical documents or other sources as to when and by whom the original idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy was. Some well known scholars, writers and historians, like the Late Dr. L.A.Ravi Varma of Travancore, have stated that this enigmatic temple was established on the first day of Kali Yuga, which is over 5000 years ago.
The legends of the temple are handed down through the centuries. It is not allowed to enter the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu unless you profess the Hindu faith and the believers strictly follow the dress code. It is the richest Hindu temple in the world. In fact, in terms of precious metals and precious stones, it is by far the wealthiest institution and place of worship of any kind in the recorded history of the world.
According to some sources, the Padmanabhaswamy temple was built in the 16th Century by the kings of Travancore who stored immense amounts of treasures within the thick stone walls and vaults of the temple. For a very long time no-one dared to open the temple. Many were afraid of the ancient curse.
But in 2001, archaeologists opened the underground chambers and discovered six chambers, labeling the vaults A through F, with the help of temple priests. What they found inside was startling. Among the treasures were gold coins dating back thousands of years, gold necklaces as long as nine feet and weighing about 2.5 kg, about one tonne of the yellow metal in the shape of rice trinkets, sticks made of the yellow metal, sack full of diamonds, gold ropes, thousands of pieces of antique jewellery studded with diamonds and emeralds, crowns and other precious stones lay scattered in the chamber marked ‘A’.
“All these things were strewn and scattered everywhere, They were not really arranged systematically. There were baskets, some earthen pots, some copper pots, and in all these things, these things were kept. It was a magnificent experience. There are no words to describe it.” Quoted the source who was part of the team that entered the vault.
They found painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicting Richard Temple-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos being greeted by Visakham Thirunal, with Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore looking on, during Buckingham’s visit to Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore in early 1880. Later, they unearthed even more surprising artifacts. Among them were 7 kg of gold coins dating back to the East India Company period, 18 coins from Napolean’s era, precious stones wrapped in silk bundles besides over 1,000 kg of gold in the form of coins and trinkets and a small elephant made of the yellow metal. There were also sovereigns bearing the 1772 seal indicating they were from the reign of the then native king Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma
Let many believe the historic shrine inside the temple conceals greater riches still. On the day the first vault was opened, the court team also tried to open a second, known as Kallara B. However, the door, with its heavily rusted, old-fashioned lock with three levers requiring three separate keys, was jammed shut.
Legend of Vault B
According to an ancient legend, the mysterious vault B was guarded by serpents. What’s inside has not been revealed so far. There are those think vault B containts even more incredible ancient treasures. One can easily say that the mysterious Padmanabhaswamy Temple is India’s own El Dorado.
The entire world stands now to know what’s behind the Mysterious Last door of Padmanabha Swamy temple. According to the experts it was expected to Unlock by itself when a Secret Chant is spelled as it is locked in that way.
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It is believed that this chamber is being considered by the Trust members and other learned Astrologers of India, as highly mysterious, sacred and risky and dangerous to unveil it. Because the steel door of the Chamber-B is has two big “Cobras” on it and this door as no nuts, bolts or other latches.
It is considered that the secret chamber is under the influence of ‘Nagabandham” by the then Sidda purushas’ who lived during the reign of King Marthdavarma in the 16th Century.
It is believed that the door of the vault can be opened by a Sadhu’s or Mantrika’s who know the “Garuda Mantra” to remove the Nagabandham on the doors. But none who are highly powerful SAndhu’s were found. 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 manthra catastrophes are likely to occour in and around the Temple premises or through out India or even through out the world according to the astrologers.
As of now, the people on the other side of the door are able to listen the sounds of water or Sounds made by snakes as guessed. Believers say that the seventh door is an opening where the entire temple and areas may be flooded with waters and some others say, that there are large serpents guarding the area inside which doesn’t allow any one. The day to know what’s really behind is still awaited.
A book titled ‘Travancore: A guidebook for the visitor’ authored by Emily Gilchrist Hatch recalled a group of people who tried to open the vaults in 1931 and had to flee for their lives when they found the place infested with cobras, and also mentioned a similarly unsuccessful attempt in 1908.
The Supreme Court- appointed amicus curiae in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple case, Gopal Subramanium, to seek the opinion of all concerned on opening of the shrine’s vault ‘B’, the contents of which have remained shrouded in secrecy. Till then the public’s fascination with the Padmanabhaswamy treasures and the Secret Vaut B will continue.
