Kerala temple authorities begin sorting, documenting treasures as per SC order

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Feb.20 (ANI): Rituals at Thiruvananthapuram's Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be affected on Monday, as local authorities begin the mammoth process of sorting out and documenting its treasures as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The treasures in the temple vaults are reportedly worth over Rs 100,000 crore.

Last week, the Supreme Court restrained a Thiruvananthapuram court from passing any further orders on the ongoing dispute relating to the assets and management of the famed temple, as it said that it was already monitoring the case.

Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore.

The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) and principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism.

The temple, constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, 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.

The temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar. The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala's state capital Thiruvananthapuram. 'Thiru' 'Anantha' 'Puram' means Sacred Abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha.

The city is also known as Anandapuram (City of Bliss) and Syananduram (Where Bliss is not far off). Ananda refers to Shree Padmanabha himself.

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, "Shree Padmanabha Dasa' (Slave of Lord Padmanabha). (ANI)