Mysterious facts about Padmanabhaswamy Temple situated in Kerala
                     MYSTERIOUS FACTS ABOUT 
PADMANABHASWAMY 
TEMPLE SITUATED IN 
KERALA
INTRODUCTION
• It’s one of the richest Hindu temples in India. Dedicated 
to Lord Vishnu, the Padmanabhaswamy temple finds its 
first mention in the ancient texts of the Tamil literature. 
Source: Facts Legend
HISTORY
• The temple has survived the ravages of time- stood 
through political uprisings, and natural disasters as an 
awe-inspiring testament to the wonders of devotion. 
• It is wreathed in mysteries when it comes to its origin 
and the source of its fabulous wealth. It is also one of 
the oldest temples in India having existed over three 
centuries.
Source: My Gold Guide
LOCATION
• The temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. 
In Malayalam, it means ‘The City of Lord Ananta’, or 
Maha Vishnu, the principal deity of the temple. 
• The current standing structure is thought to be from 
the 16th century. 
Source: Pinterest
MYSTERY- LEGEND AND HISTORY
• The Padmanabhaswamy temple history tells us about 
its origin that a sage residing near the Ananthapuram 
Temple, prayed to Lord Vishnu with great devotion. 
• Vishnu visited him in the guise of a mischievous boy, 
who defiled the sage’s idol.  Enraged, the sage drove 
the boy away. 
Source: Tentaran
 INDIA- ARCHITECTURE
• The architecture of the temple is a mix of that unique to 
indigenous Kerala and Dravidian styles. 
• Inside the garbhagriha or inner sanctum, an idol of Lord 
Padmanabha resting on his celestial eight-hooded snake 
Adishehsnag is placed. 
• One of the creators from the Holy Trinity, Lord Brahma, 
emerges from a lotus through God’s navel.
Source: Times Now
 TEMPLE VAULTS- TREASURES OF THE 
WORLD
• All the vaults, with the exception of the second, have 
been opened to make an inventory of the contents. 
• The members of the team dealing with the inventory 
were astonished beyond comprehension by the 
glittering magnificence within.
Source: Times Now
MYSTERY- NILAVARA VAULT
• The Padmanabhaswamy temple sealed door, also 
known as the Padmanabhaswamy temple vault B, 
remains till date a mystery. 
• Archaeologists surmise that it has never been opened 
since the 1880s. A number of myths and legends have 
sprung up about the Nilavara vault.
Source: YouTube
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TEMPLE 
TREASURE?
• Recent reports as covered by the media, and as per the 
enquiry of the supreme court of India declare that 
about 189 crores worth of gold has gone missing from 
the temple complex. 
• Along with gold, eight diamonds of the rarest kind that 
once adorned an idol of the temple have also 
disappeared into thin air. 
Source: Forbes
TEMPLE SECRETS
• As per the prescribed convention only a powerful yogi whose 
lips give life to the Garuda Mantra, and its essence can open 
the vault. 
• Thus, filling the gap in the pages of the Padmanabhaswamy 
temple history, by revealing the long-held Padmanabhaswamy 
temple mystery.
• The carvings of snakes on the door have led people to believe 
that the snake god guards the treasure against all human 
intrusion.
Source: Forbes
MYSTERY STORY
• Another legend says that about a century ago, people 
tried to open the vault during a famine, but they 
stopped when the sound of rushing water was heard 
from within. 
• The story goes that of the vault is opened, a flood will 
wipe out the city.
Source: Kerala Kaumudi