The hidden chamber of Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Shri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is considered one of the richest temples in the world. Around $22 billion worth of gold, gemstones, and statues have been found in five of its earlier hidden chambers. But, one chamber still remains closed. What’s behind vault B? Why has it not been opened like the others? Mysteries, legends, and debates encapsulate its secrets.
The hidden chamber of Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Since time immemorial, children’s books as well as films have featured mysterious stories shrouding treasure. However, sometimes these stories turn out to be real. One such story shrouded in mystery is that of Thiruvananthapuram’s Padmanabha Swamy Temple and its inaccessible chamber.
Located in Kerala, Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is one of the most revered temples of Lord Vishnu. In the heart of the temple lies the huge idol of Lord Vishnu in Ananthasayanam. The Lord Brahma sits on the lotus, which is attached by its stem to Lord Vishnu’s navel. Besides this, the temple is home to Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, the two consorts of Lord Vishnu. This rare union of divinity attracts over a million devotees every year. The significance of this pious abode is not new and has been held for centuries.
Originally built in the 6th century AD, the temple was later adorned further by the Kings of Travancore and was used by them to store hidden treasures. This colossal treasure remained hidden until 2011, when a retired IPS officer, Sundarajan, filed a petition in the Supreme Court to appraise the temple’s unknown treasures. The seven-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court discovered six enormous secret vaults, which were named A, B, C, D, E, and F.
The doors were made of iron, and opening them was an uphill task. After weeks of toil, when the secret doors were opened, unimaginable wealth was found. There were precious stones, gold statues, crowns, diamonds, and whatnot. In total, the treasure found in these vaults amounted to around Rs 90,000 crore, or roughly $22 billion. However, not all chambers were opened. Vault B remained closed and is still so to this day.
Vault B has three doors. The first door is constructed of wood, while the other two are built of iron. However, it is the final door that is not only odd but also strange. That door is guarded by two big snakes carved on it, and there is no lock. Every feasible method of opening the door has been tried, but to no avail.
The chamber B is believed to have been sealed using ‘Naga Bandham’ or ‘Naga Paasam’ mantras by the then siddha purushas who lived during the reign of King Marthanda Varma in the 16th century. It is said that the door of such a secret vault can only be opened by a highly capable saint or sage who is familiar with the knowledge of removing ‘Naga Bandham’ or ‘Naga Paasam’ by chanting a ‘Garuda Mantra’.
The ruling family of Travancore, along with Vedic scholars and temple priests, believes that any attempt to open the vault other than the chanting of the “Garuda Mantra” by a capable saint will result in catastrophe. This belief was strengthened when Sundarajan, the petitioner, died unexpectedly a month after the doors of the other vaults were opened.
Legends associated with the vault make the curse more believable. As per one such legend, during the 1930s, temple hunters tried to invade the temple, but as soon as they did, humongous and deadly serpents came out of hiding.
The only person who knew what lay behind the door was Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the head of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.
Being the heir of the Travancore family, which acted as guardian of the Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma assumed the titular position of custodian of the temple. In addition, he was the younger brother of the last ruling monarch of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who died in 1991. These hierarchical and social positions allowed him to know royal secrets, including the royal wealth behind the hidden chambers. But, he never spoke a word about it and died with this secret in 2013, making the secret of Padmanabhaswamy Temple more mysterious.
To make matters unfathomable, the Supreme Court in 2020 upheld the rights of the Travancore royal family in administering the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The bench also refused to give any order to open the door, considering it to be an administrative decision. However, the court has ordered a special audit of the temple’s and Shri Padmanabha Swamy Temple Trust (SPSTT)’s accounts spanning 25 years to be conducted by former Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) Vinod Rai.
There is a hope that time will tell what and how much wealth the temple holds, including that behind Vault B. However, the sentimental beliefs of the guardians of the temple might prevent the mystery from being unveiled in the totem. As a result, the story of Padmanabha Swamy Temple might continue to remain as enigmatic as the one we read or watch in awe.