Kerala Feeds: [Keralites] About Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple at Trivandrum

Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple at Trivandrum

Thiruvananthapuram's most Sacred Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian style of architecture. It is a best example of South Indian architecture, with an impressive seven -story gopuram (tower). Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple and they have rules of clothing. Even the male Hindus, must enter the temple wearing only white dhoti.Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple, one of the 108 shrines sacred to Vaishnavas, is held in high veneration. There is a tradition that the God of the temple is believed to have been worshipped by Chandra and Indra. Nammalwar, has sung eleven verses in praise of this place and Lord Padmanabha.Different versions are in vogue about the origin of the temple which stands in an area formerly known as 'Ananthankadu'. One account has it that a Pulaya (backward class) woman was weeding a field when she heard the piercing cry of a baby. She found the infant and fed it. After she went back to her work, a five headed cobra is said to have removed the child to a hole in a tree and sheltered it from the sun with its hood. The news reached the then ruler, who ordered a temple to be constructed at that place.

Another version traces the origin of the temple to the renowned sage, Vilvamangalam Swamiyar, who became annoyed with an invisible child, which was constantly disturbing his penance and meditation. He threw the child aside rudely but the child left the sage telling him that it could be again found only at Ananthankadu. The grief stricken Swamiyar went in search of Ananthankadu, guided only by the tinkling of the bells of the waist-belt of the invisible child. When he reached Ananthankadu, a huge illuppa tree (bassia longifolia) came down with a loud crash and Lord Vishnu appeared before reclining on Adishesha with His four arms, extending from Thiruvallam to Thiruppapur, a distance of about eight miles.

The Padmanabha Swamy temple is a treasure house of ancient works of art, such as sculpture in stone and bronze, mural paintings and wood carvings. The mural paintings which represent incidents from the Puranas are remarkable for their lustre, colour and antique dignity.there are the 'Bhadradipams' of seven day duration celebrated twice a year. At the end of twelve such Bhadradipams, that is every sixth year, there is a major celebration called the 'Murajapam' (chanting of Manthras). The Travancore Maharaja, Marthanda Varma, had conducted many wars against petty principalities, which were scattered.

The first such Murajapam was held in 1750 A.D., to expiate the sins of war and annexation of territory. The 'Laksha Deepam' (festival of lights) around the temple, marks the conclusion of the celebrations.

The rulers of Travancore functioned as 'Padmanabha Dasas' (as servants of the Lord), from the days of Marthanda Varma, who after annexing several principalities, dedicated the entire State to Padmanabha by placing his 'Udaval' (sword) at the feet of the deity in December 1749 A.D. Since that time, the people of Travancore have had a devotional attachment to and sacred regard for the Royal House. The King thus, tactfully combined politics and religion. Elaborate rituals are conducted in the temple, because of the twelve thousand sacred 'salagramas' which constitute the idol.Quite a few gorgeous processional 'vahanas' in the temple were designed and dedicated by Maharaja Swati Tirunal. The entire codification of the details of rituals and ceremonies observed in the temple and during the nine

days festival of Navarathri, reveal his touch. Raja Swati Tirunal, has composed many songs in praise of Padmanabha. An exquisite piece of stone work is the Kulasekhara Mandapam (Ayiramkal Mandapam). Padmanabha Swamy temple is the only major specimen of the Dravidian style of architecture of Kerala State. The entrance tower is fine example of South Indian architecture. It is about 35 metres in height and has seven storeys. The foundation of the present tower was laid in 1566 A.D., and the structure was completed in 1604 A.D. The flag post (Dhwaja stambha) in front of the temple was erected in 1565 A.D. Later, it was covered with gold plated copper sheets.The 'Bali Peeda Mandapam' and 'Mukha Mandapam' with excellent sculptures of several deities in the Hindu pantheon and the 'Navagraha Mandapa', the ceiling of which displays nine planets in front of the Krishna shrine are other notable parts of the temple. The Siveli Mandapam, the tower and the outer pathways bear the imprint of master sculptors. An example of their fine craftsmanship is seen in a piece of carving which has the figure of an elephant on one side and that of a bull on the other. Their forms are so expertly blended that the horns of the bull appear as the tusks of the elephant when viewed from the other side and the rolledup trunk of the elephant serves as the hump for the bull.

The Details of Festivals In Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple

1.Nirmalyapooja	-	Everyday at 3' clock
2.Kalabham	-	January 8th to 14th - Makaraseeveli at 8.30 Pm Perunthiramruthu Pooja
3.Painguniuthsavam	-	March – April -10th day Arattu
4.Vishu	-	April 14th – VishuKani Darshan at 5.pm
5.Kalabham	-	July 11 to 16th – Karkkidakaseeveli Perunthiramruthu Pooja
6.Niraputhari	-	July – August
7.Thiruvonam	-	Onavillucharth August / September
8.Vinayakachathurthi	-	Agrasala – August / September
9.Sree Krishhna Jayanthi	-	Ashtamirohini – August / September
10.Valiya Ganapathi Homam	-	12 days September / October
11.Navarathri	-	September / October
12.Alppashiuthsavam	-	October / November –10 days Arattu
13.Swargavathil Ekadhasi	-	December
14.Thrikkarthika	-	December
15.Mandala Pooja	-	December
16.murajapam	-	Murajapam is conducted at the SreePadmanabhaswamy Temple once in six years.It is mainly for the welfare of the country.Murajapam will conduct when 12 Bhadradeepam joins.This year Bhadradeepam slated on November 21 and ends on 14th January 2008.


17.Annadhanam	-	Everyday food is offered to devotees from 11.30 to 12.30

Murajapam 20 November 07 to 14 January 08 LAKSHADEEPAM 14 January 2008

The 14th January 2008 will witness this wonderful and unique festival of Sree Padmanabha Swamy being worshipped as from immemorial times by the illumination with one Lakhs of Deepams or One Hundred Thousand Lights. This splendor happens once in six years. This day is also the culmination of a Ritual, which is a Yagna, commencing Fifty Six Days before. This Ulsav is in the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple (in the heart of this Bhu Bhaga – this part of the land) considered as the Brahmasthan of the city of Thiruvananthapuram.

There are many unique features in the Temple of Sree Padmanabha Swamy in Sree Ananthapuram (Thiru Ananthapuram or Trivandrum).

Resting on seven acres of land, this Temple has the eastern entrance dominated by a Gopuram the top of which is designed to suggest the contours of a Boat. Such a girth is seldom found in any other temple. It has a four furlong Sivelipuraprakaram. There is fabulous granite Kulasekhara Mandapam, this Mandapam has 24 pillars, each depicting one of the manifestations of divinity under a spreading tree. The pillars have a wealth of carving around them. Shedding a golden glow is the tortoise supported Vriksha Vilakku, a lamp of glittering flames rising on the branches of the metal tree. Next is the Abhisravana Mandapam where the sacred Kalasam ceremonies take place. The Ottakkal Mandapam is a marvel of ancient workmanship, one slab of granite weighing so many tones. All these are the beautiful settings for the jewel of the Sanctum sanctorum, "Sri Padmanabha Swamy".

Still baffling the endeavors of the scholar and the dedicated historian is the date of the coming of the Lord to this sacred spot. At a guess it is possible to fix it at more than two thousand years from now. Legend which is to be still brought within the purview of chronology has it that great sage and devotee, Swamy Vilvamangalam had the infinite joy of His Divya Darshanam. It was as answer to the prayer to the Lord to be of such proportions for human eyes to see that the Lord took the form of the length of three times that of the sage's Yoga Dandu (staff) of about eighteen feet.

Indian iconography is to the marvel at for the concept and the creation of a technique by which a form of the divine could be made of an amalgam known as KATU SARKARA YOGAM.

This splendid Idol crafted of this complex substance contains 12,000 saligramo-silas brought from Nepal on elephant's back. There is no other Padmanabha Swamy like this anywhere else. He is Vishnu, lying on the serpent Ananta. From His navel rises Brahma and under his right hand Siva is seen.

He can be worshipped only through the three doors, keeping in mind the vision in the forest of Anantha (Ananthancadu), where, it is said He appeared before His bhaktha, Vilvamangalam as Ananthashayee. The glory of Sri Padmanabha Swamy is sung in many ancient texts like the VARSHA PURANA where He conveys the message that He is subtly present on earth in Sri Ananthapuram.

This reference is in the chapter headed, Syanandura Mahatmyam. The very roots of the Sthala purana are seen in the Brahmanda Puranam which also sets forth the Ashtottara (the 108 names of the Lord). The Bhagavatham is recounting the pilgrimage of Balarama reveals His coming to worship Sri Padmanabha Swamy after a bath in the holy waters of Padmathirtha and gifting of ten thousand cows. The famous Vaishnava saint, Sri Ramanuja has offered his prayers here, and so has the ecstatic devotee, Sri Chaithanya Mahaprabhu who identified this Temple as one among the six Narayanasthals of Bharatham.

This is a Mahakshethra and is one of the 13 Vishnu shrines of Kerala identified as Divya Deshams or Thiruppathies by the great Alwar Saints. The rituals performed here are detailed and much more than in many other Temples. There are daily three full pujas from dawn to night. Two Utsavams, the Kalasams, the Kalabham and the recitation of many Puranas take place here.

Maharaja Anizhom Thirunal Marthanda is hailed the architect of modern Travancore. A grand Yajna was conducted by him known as Lakshadeepam, inclusive of the lengthy Murajapam. The first

Lakshadeepam was in mid January (Makaram 1st )1750 AD. By the supreme grace of God it continues unbroken to date. It has been the privilege of the successive Sri Padmanabha Dasas (The rulers of Travancore) to ensure its conduct every six years without fail.

The Lakshadeepam and the Deeparadhana on that day bring to the mind the thought of 'Tamaso Ma Jyothirgamays'. The entire fifty-six day Yajna known as the Murajapam, which preceded the Lakshadeepam, literally means Japa done in cyclic rotation.

The origin of it goes way back to the days of the Mahabharatha and Puranic times and so a king called Karthaveerarjuna.

In his desire for the well being of all and his people in particular he sought the guidance of Atri Putra Dattatreya. Karthaveerarjuna come from a long illustrious line, from mahavishnu-Atri-Chandra-Budha-Puroovas-Aayus-Yayati-Yadu-Sahasrajit-Ekaveera (Hehaya)-Dharma Kani-Bhadrasenan-Dhanaka and Kritaveerya or Karthaveerarjuna. He was of the Hehaya Vamsa (family). The Hehayas were extremely generous and were lauded for their charitable disposition. Karth-aveerarjuna went to Mahishmati on the banks of the Narmada and keeping the precepts pf Maharshi Atri performed the Yagna known as Bhadradeepa or Murajapa, ending on the 56th day with full ritual of japa; the Veda Parayana and Veda Ghosha every morning and followed by the recitation of the Sahasranama; the Thousand names of the Lord Narayana or Maha Vishnu. The Sahasranama is almost is unique as the Sreemad Bhagwat Gita. Adarshan on the 14th January will verily be 'VAIKUNTA PRIYADARSHANAM'.

In the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple the supreme being is first worshipped with Naadopaasana in the form of Vedic chanting and Sahasranama Japa and on the concluding day with Tajopaasana in the form of the innumerable scintillating lights.

MURA SREEBALI PROGRAMME

20.11.2007	Tuesday	SIMHASANA VAHANAM
27.11.2007	Tuesday	ANANTHA VAHANAM
05.12.2007	Wednesday	KAMALA VAHANAM
13.12.2007	Thursday	INDRA VAHANAM
21.12.2007	Friday	PALLINILAVU VAHANAM
29.12.2007	Saturday	INDRA VAHANAM
06.01.2008	Sunday	PALLINILAVU VAHANAM
14.01.2008	Monday	GARUDA VAHANAM

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