Sree Padmanabha swamy Temple, Trivandrum

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By P.R.Ramachander: This great temple is situated in the middle of the capital city of Kerala-Trivandrum. It is the most richest temple in India. It is also possibly one of the very few temples in Kerala with a Raja Gopuram of 7 tiers. It is believed that the great Saint Vilwa Mangalathu Swamiyar, with whom Lord Krishna was always there, once irritated Lord Krishna due to his pride. Lord Krishna disappeared from there. When the Swamiyar prayed, Lord Krishna told him in his dream to find him in Anathan Kadu. After many days of arduous search, Swamiyar reached a place called Ananthan Kadu. There he sat near a big stone and later realized that it was the Lord himself. There was nothing with him to offer to the Lord. So he approached a poor family near by and took from them tender mango pickled in salt and offered it to the Lord. This tradition of offering tender pickled mango is being continued till this time.

It is also believed that this is a one of the temples established by Lord Parasurama. It became dilapidated by non use and was later found by Vilwamangalathu Swamiyar. The God in this temple is Lord Padmanabha reclining on his serpent bed Anantha. It is believed that this statue was made by using 10008 salagramas (holy stones taken from the Gandaki river of Nepal) . King Marthanda Verma of the Travancore dynasty [resented the entire Kingdom of Travancore to this lord and took the title of Padmanabha dasa, (servant of Padmanabha)

The temple opens at 3,30 Am the timings when devotees can see the Lord are (before noon) 3.30-4.45, 6.30-7.00, 8.30-10.00, 10.30-11.00, 11.45-12.00; (after noon) 5.00-6.15 and 6.45-7.20. Only Hindus are permitted inside the temple. There are several festivals in the temple. Ganesh Chathurthi , Ashtami Rohini and the festival in thula and Meena masa are famous. Once in 12 years there is A laksha (hundred thousand) deepa (lamps) observed in this temple. This is accompanied by recitation of Vedas by Namboothiri
Brahmins called Mura Japam.

Apart from the tender mango mentioned earlier, Milk kheer is offered as offering in a coconut shell daily .Other naivedyams are Unni appam, aval etc.

Treasures found from the underground cellars of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmanabhaswamy_temple
• www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.org/

• YouTube - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple‏

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