Lord Vishnu is one of the most prominent and highly revered deities for Hindus. There are 108 Divya Desams or Vishnu temples in India. One of them is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Padmanabhaswamy, a form of Lord Vishnu, is the principal deity of this temple. It is located in the East Fort of Thiruvananthapuram, which is the capital city of Kerala. The architecture of this temple is a blend of Kerala and Dravidian styles. The history of the temple goes back to the 8th century. It also closely relates to the Travancore Kingdom. This dynasty ruled this region from the 18th to the 20th century. This ancient shrine is a part of the rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted religious traditions of the people of this area. In this blog by Cottage9, we will discuss the most fascinating aspects of this Vishnu temple.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple History
The origins of this temple go back to the 8th century. This makes it one of the ancient temples of Kerala. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in one of the seven Parasurama Kshetras. Padma Theertham, a holy tank, lies close to the temple. It means lotus spring.
The temple finds a mention in ancient texts, including the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. Ancient Tamil Azhwar saints have also glorified the temple in Divya Prabandham, a sacred anthology of Tamil verses.
This particular temple received patronage from various royal dynasties. The kings of the Travancore dynasty carried out major renovations in the temple. In 1750, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the founder of the Travancore dynasty, dedicated his kingdom to Lord Padmanabha. He is the main deity of this temple.
The king declared himself to be Padmanabha Dasa, the servant of the deity. This historic proclamation from the king enhanced the status of this prominent temple of Lord Vishnu. It linked the identity of his kingdom to the spiritual legacy of this temple. Thus, it became a symbol of cultural pride, devotion, and prosperity of this region.
The Idol at the Padmanabhaswamy Shrine
The Idol at the Padmanabhaswamy Shrine
The Padmanabhaswamy temple murti represents the divine form of Vishnu. He reclines on Anantha, which is the serpent. The idol shows Vishnu engrossed in deep yogic meditation. A lotus emerges from his navel. Lord Brahma is seated on the lotus. The idol is 18 feet long. 12,008 salagramas were used for making this idol. Salagramas were taken from the banks of the River Gandhaki in Nepal.
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Devotees have to ascend to the mandapam of the temple to perform darshan and puja of the deity’s idol. They can see Lord Vishnu’s head and chest through the first door. People can see his hands through the second door. They can see Vishnu’s feet from the third door.
The Padmanabhaswamy temple idol is not the only attraction at the shrine. Various exquisite paintings and murals also adorn its interiors. The majority of them show Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture. The paintings and murals also depict Lord Ganapati, Narasimha Swamy, and Gaja Lakshmi.
The Other Significant Aspects of the Shrine
The Other Significant Aspects of the Shrine
The Bali Peeda Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam are halls in the temple. Sculptures of various Hindu deities embellish these halls. The Navagraha Mandapa is yet another notable and captivating feature. Here, the ceiling displays the navagrahas or the nine planets. Gold-plated copper sheets cover the temple’s flag post or dhwaja stamba. Its height is up to 80 feet.
The temple also has a broad corridor that extends from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum. It has granite stone pillars etched with exquisite carvings. A nataka sala is located below the main entrance of the temple, on the eastern side. It literally means drama hall. The temple organizes an annual ten-day festival during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam. During this time, artists perform Kathakali, a classical dance form of Kerala, in the nataka sala.
Two other important shrines, Thekkedom and Thiruvambadi, are also located inside the temple. Thekkedom shrine is dedicated to Ugra Narasimha, the protector of the temple’s treasure. The Thiruvambadi shrine is dedicated to Krishna Swami. It contains a granite idol of Parthasarathi, the divine charioteer of Arjuna. The shrine also features a separate namaskara mandapam, a flag mast, and Bali stones.
The temple of Padmanaswamy has a rich spiritual and religious significance for the people of this area. It is also part of their social and cultural heritage. Even the name Thiruvananthapuram relates to the temple. The name originates from the Malayalam or Sanskrit phrase Thiru-Anantha-Puram, meaning The City of Lord Anantha. It refers to the reclining form of Padmanabhaswamy on the serpent Anantha. The temple has immense wealth and holds tremendous historical and architectural importance. Moreover, it is an architectural marvel. That’s why it continues to attract devotees and visitors.
FAQs
What is the history of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
The history of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple goes back to the 8th century. The king of Travancore, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, renovated it extensively.
What are the unique features of Sree Padmanabhaswamy’s idol?
The main idol measures 18 ft long and is viewed through three doors. The first door shows the head and chest, while the second door shows the hands. The third door shows the deity’s feet. The idol is made from 12008 salagramams.
Where is the Padmanabhaswamy Shrine located?
The Padmanabhaswamy shrine is located in Thiruvananthapuram. It is the capital city of the state of Kerala in India.
Which is the main deity at Padmanabhaswamy Shrine?
Lord Vishnu, in the form of Padmanabha, is the main deity of this shrine. Here he is reclining on the serpent Ananta.
Why is Padmanabhaswamy shrine famous?
The shrie is renowned for its spiritual and religious significance. Moreover, it showcases magnificent Dravidian architecture. Furthermore, it is one of the richest shrines in the world.
