Do You Know About Padmanabha Swamy Temple In Kerala

 

It is one of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples in India. It is situated at Thiruvanathapuram in kerala state. It is an architectural wonder and a magnificent temple. The name literally splits into "Tiru", "Anantha" "puram" meaning "the town of Lord ANANTHA"(Vishnu). Now Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the wealthiest religious institutions in India due to the vast treasure trove revealed in recent days.

This temple in its present form is built by Maharaja Marthanda Varma (1729-1758), who was one of the most powerful rulers of Travancore.   It is a fine specimen of South Indian and Dravidian architecture.

The Principal Deity is Lord Vishnu, reclining on Anantha (the hooded Serpent). The massive idol of the deity measures 18 feet in length and is covered with gold and other precious stones. This idol is visible through three different doors. The head and chest are seen through the first door; while the hands can be seen through the second door and the feet through the third door.  The platforms in front of the Vimanam (It is a tower above the GarbhaGriha or Sanctom Sanctorum in hindu temple) where the deity rests, are both carved out of a single massive stone and hence called ‘Ottakkal-mandapam’. Only the King of Travancore may perform sashtanga namaskaram, or prostrate on the ‘Ottakkal Mandapam’. The temple architecture stands out for its work in stone and bronze. There are halls (Bali Peeda Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam) decorated with beautiful sculptures of various Hindu deities. The Navagraha Mandapa the ceiling of which displays the navagrahas (the nine planets) is the main attraction of temple. The other deities include Narasimha Swamy (half-lion, half man incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Gaja Lakshmi and Lord Ganapati. The temple has a dhwaja stamba (flag post) that is about 80 ft high and is covered with gold plated copper sheets.

The temple have seven tier gopuram covered with beautiful stone carvings and also a broad corridor with 324 sculptured pillars. The temple interiors are covered with interesting mural paintings depicting mythical stories.

The nataka sala, ground floor below under the main entrance in the eastern side, where Kerala's classical art form - the Kathakali is performed during the annual ten-day festival at the temple, held during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam.

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