Now Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the world’s richest Hindu temple. As of now, the Balaji temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is believed to be the richest temple in the country, followed by Shirdi Sai Baba shrine in Maharashtra.
A vast treasure trove of gold coins, jewels and precious stones were unearthed at a Hindu temple in Trivandrum, India. The opening of four vaults reveals a vast bounty that unofficial estimates at 22 billion US dollars (1,00,000 Crores).
16th-century Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple is located in Trivandrum, capital of India’s southern Kerala state. The discovery has instantly turned the 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple into one of the wealthiest religious institutions in the country.
The treasures unearthed so far include statues of gods and goddesses made of solid gold and studded with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, crowns and necklaces, all given as gifts to the temple over the centuries.
The $22 billion figure is double India’s 2011-2012 education budget. The vaults were opened for inspection after a local activist filed a case that reached the Supreme Court alleging the temple’s authorities were not properly tending to the site’s security. And now some in the traditionally leftist state of Kerala where the temple is located are calling for the hoard to be handed over to the government in order to be dispensed in the public interest.
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple History:
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has been around for nearly a millennia, but gained its real luster by the 18th century, when it was patronized by the powerful monarchs of the local state of Travancore. Not long after decisively defeating a Dutch army in the 1741 Battle of Colachel, Marthanda Varma, king of Travancore, set about building the towering structure that defines Sree Padmanabhaswamy to this day and dubbed himself and all those in his lineage servants of Padmanabha, another name for the Hindu god Vishnu. Ever since, the prestige of the temple and Travancore’s royal dynasty has been entwined, the latter deriving a fair amount of symbolic power from their connection to the former.
After Indian independence in 1947 and the dissolution of its many semi-independent princely states, it’s suspected that much of the royal dynasty’s considerable wealth was funneled into the temple and that, combined with decades of accumulated donations, has created this extraordinary treasure trove. The descendants of the house of Travancore still supervise the trust that administers Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, but, unlike some of India’s other disparate (and defunct) royal families, appear to have been rather careful about their bequest, keeping it in the dark and under lock and key for decades.
That fastidiousness will likely dampen whatever political flames are sure to spark after this treasure’s unearthing. In India, home to virtually all the world’s religions, contests over holy sites are always hot-button issues, and often sadly a matter of life and death. Some among the country’s Hindu far-right still invoke in present political discourse the 11th century sacking of the great (and wealthy) temple at Somnath in western India by Muslim invaders, among other historical grievances. But it’s unlikely the hoard at Sree Padmanabhaswamy will be carted off — though one can only hope that both state and temple authorities find a means to bring such reportedly exquisite treasures safely to light, for all to see.
It is nothing serious that you find treasure in ancient temples. After all the jewelleries, cash are the offerings made by many people including Kings, to God over centuries If only such treasures are found in a single person’s custody it becomes a point to suspect.It is quite natural that many religious funds are accumulated over a period of time, be it Hindus, Muslims,Christians,Parsis,Sikhs and so on so forth.
All the religion have funds and jewels in the same manner.
It should be safeguarded properly and not allowed to be handled by politiicians. Why not they conduct search in Muslim dargas,in Golden Temple Amritsar
i agree completely
im proud of born hindu
The treasures that are hidden in lord Padmanabha Swamy temple, should not be handed over to Government, instead it should be protected by the Government. First of all, it is not an ill gotten treasure ,it is a donation given by the Travancore kings to the deity(it belongs to god) and for the sake of Hindu religion, if Government confiscates the property worth billions, then it will be used for the upliftment of other religion people also, do other religion people give their property or treasures to government ,no right? “No Government should ever dare to touch these properties, instead it should be protected.”
No – If you consider the daily recurring income and fixed asset of Balaji all over India, deposits in Banks – Tirumala Balaji is still richest temple in world.
What discovered in Padmanabha temple is treasure. Even if you calculate the income and assets wise Tirumala Balaji is richest.
Regards
am proud to be an indian . coz it’s founds in Kerala dats in india. Proud to be an indian.
it is not very important that whether Sri Balaji is rich or Sri padmanapha is rich both are god Vishnu only. Now world is educated. So we know what is good and what is not. we should not allow our selves to divide on religion. we must consider the god is unique. it is sure the the property belongs to lord Vishnu. it must be kept safe. like tirumalai tiruphaty devasthnam one Trivandrum padmanapha devasthnam can be formed. For temple more areas can be acquired from the near by people by giving enough compensation. the temple can start many top level world class educational institutions and super hospitals under the name of lord padmanapha
sree padmanabha om namo bhagavathe vaasudevaya
I am proud to be born in Sreepadmanabhan’s land
Wonderful weblog. All posts have a process to learn. Your hard work is very good and i enjoy you and wanting for some more informative posts.
It is good it was discovered now otherwise the Brits would have taxed the lord in order to fund their wars or expand their empire. Shame it it would have ended up on the queens head. Hats off to whoever designed the vault. The government of Kerala runs the wealthiest state and would not need it. You only need to travel to Kerala to see how rich and beautiful the state is.
proud to tell that iam from tvpm- sreepadmanabhaswami’s land
Kill all muslims and let India be the place for all Hindus!!!
ATHIRA
India is a democratic country, and the people of india should also be democratic. After all we are studying to gain knowledge but even though there are some people who lowers the status of india just by discriminating between muslims and other religion which is just nuisance. We have to create a feeling that everyone are equal and we should convey this message to our coming generations too, we should love PEOPLE not RELIGION, and should respect everyone’s feelings.
If these wealth are invested for inter linking of rivers, irrigation projects, hydro power generation, making the temple as owner of the projects, so that revenues from these projects can be used for temple activities like annadhanams, free hospitals and free medical treatment for the poor, scholarship for poor students. Unused or unusable wealth has no value. It will be just like another brick or stone and not a diamond or ruby or gold. So invest these wealth in India’s needs, which can generate income for the temple. Even new railway lines can be laid using these wealth. Temple management must be caretaker, and see that income from theses projects comes promptly and utilized properly. Government should allow all religious institution or trusts to invest the wealth for the good of our country and for financial health of the institution or temple.
A.Srinivasa Raghavan.
All properties of temples belong to God and should be kept safe under custody of a trust, organised by democratic way. These wealth should be used for needy people through free hospital, free school with all latest aminities.
wealth belongs to people not of any king. god dont need wealth. wealth should be used for the welfare of people and country. government should undertake the treasure immediately not only of padmanabha but from entire temples, mosques, and religious institutions, etc. in india. one should not preserve wealth in a country where people die of hunger, childrens die of malnutrition. you pay to see lord in tirupati balaji and many other temples….is it fair. religion is totally rotten. even god dont want to see us. so we should do something thing that is worthy.
hi all…
this is power of indian hindu gods. and also hinduism power. i told one point to here all visitors…
born Hindu
live Hindu
dies for hindu….
In india before the rulors of britishers all temple are richest temple..but some idiot theft the wealth to send it…
all should realise that the whole universe made by lord and how we can determine that only padmanabhas asset belongs to loard. its all given by him the almighty lord.
the wealth is not more than spectrum scam
Hi Nari,
Real point, I’m totally agree with you
It is not important who is rich either tirupathi or this one. But both are in India, that we must prode
This wonderful and majestic temple and all its wealth must be preserved and kept in recognition of the Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy or Lord Vishnu Venkatarama. All the wealth discovered together with all the temples invaluable master pieces and treasure must be preserved and let the whole of India to know the importance to save and teasure their culture, religion and traditions that spells respect for righteousness, diginity and tolerance.
Yes it is
I ageery it
gold use for reserve bank of india.
all relation (all cast ) tampale.
india gov make one low for this………..
Indian Government’s Duty to help to preserve this Great Temple and Its Vast Treasures in Precious Jewels, Gold, Silver,Intricate jewellery and invaluable Artifacts/treasure master pieces to Tell The world over of India’s Rich Hindu Culture and traditional believes. Indian Government together with all of India’s Hindu Organisations must come together and Tell the Indians to Take Pride of India’s Immense and Rich Hindu culture during the Great empires in Ramayana and Mahabratha’s empires and its centuries old religion that preaches love, tolerance and peaceful coexistance. All Indians have a duty to take pride of all Hindu temples wealths in gold, silver, precious stones, jewellery and do everything to protect them and keep them safely for its future generations to know and be proud of.
tirumala temple is rechest no 1……………………………
I truly beleive that the wealth of the padmanabhva temple shoulf be protected by the government not to be utilised for any purpose. somebody has said the right comments .If used for the countries puropose then other religion will enjoy it. for centuries we have been raped and looted by other religion . now we are free let that not happen again.