Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple treasure at risk, says SC

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The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern about the security of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram following the wide media publicity about the huge wealth being found in its cellars.

A bench consisting of Justices R. V. Raveendran and A.K. Patnaik said the immense wealth could be at ‘risk,’ while reserving its order on a bunch of interim applications on the issue.

The state government told the SC that it was implementing a security system worth Rs 1 crore in the temple, but the apex court felt that more measures should be taken.

It is estimated that the wealth found in the temple cellars is worth Rs 1 lakh crore. The state government in affidavit also made it clear that the wealth belonged to the temple and no other authority had a right over it.

"The gold ornaments, precious stones, coins and other objects of value found in the cellars of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple belongs to the temple,” said the affidavit.

“Nobody can lay claim on them.”

The government also cited the tradition of the Travancore Royal family, who gave their personal wealth and the offerings of devotees of Lord Padmanabha to the temple and stressed that the “State did not have any claim on it.”

Plea claims divine threat to B cellar

A descendent of Travancore royal family has sought to invoke divine threat against opening of “cellar-B” of the Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram where more treasure is believed to be stored.

In his affidavit, Adithya Varma said that the cellar-B could only be opened if Lord Padmanabha gave permission through Deva Prashnam a traditional way of seeking such permission.

“Opening of cellar ‘B’ is not advisable at all because the sign of the serpent visible at the entrance indicates that it is not auspicious to open it. However, a decision on this may be taken after conducting the traditional Deva Prashnam,” he said.