5 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala always mesmerises you! The richest temple in the world is not short of surprises and mysteries, too. Here are some of the lesser-known facts of the temple that will surely stun you.

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Yes, the 18-foot-long idol of Lord Vishnu in his Anantha Shayana posture is made with a unique mix of herbs and resins, called Katu-Sarkara-Yogam. Also, there are 12,008 Salagramas placed inside the idol that are brought from the Gandaki River in Nepal. And it is because of this uniqueness of the idol that no abhishekam, the ritual bath with water, milk, or honey, is done on the idol.

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The temple's huge seven-level Gopuram stands as an architectural achievement from ancient times. The equinoxes create a breathtaking visual show that occurs twice each year. The Sun appears to set through the middle of the tower's five window-like openings, which display perfect alignment and show the Sun's movement at five-minute intervals.

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We are all familiar with the B vault in the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The vault, which is said to have enormous wealth or a disaster, remains unopened, leaving it still a mystery. However, it is said that along with the B vault, two other vaults in the temple are unopened. Out of the 8 vaults in the temple, the G and H vaults are also unopened. It is believed that just like the B vault, the G and H vaults also contain immense, undocumented wealth.

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Yet another unique ceremony that happens in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the presentation of Onavillu on Thiruvonam Day. Bow-shaped wooden planks handcrafted from mahogany or yellow chinaberry, meticulously painted with natural dyes depicting intricate Puranic themes, such as the Ananthasayanam, the Dasavatara, or the Shrirama Pattabhishekam, are presented to the Lord during Onam by the ancestral family of craftmen, the Vilayil Veedu family. Devotees can also get these bows after getting sanctified at the temple.

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As per the data from the 2011 inspection, the worth of the temple is roughly estimated to be 1.2 lakh crore. However, historians argue that if the wealth of the temple were auctioned as historical artefacts (like the Roman gold coins or the diamond-encrusted gold throne), the value would skyrocket to over 80 lakh crore.

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