Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram – The Temple

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram – The Temple

It is one of the grandest temples of Kerala, exhibiting an amalgamation of Dravidian and Kerala temple architectural styles. It is a temple vibrant with tradition, having been associated for years with the arts and music. The rulers of Travancore have held this temple in the highest regard. The foundation of the present gopuram was laid in 1566. The temple has a 100-foot (30 m), 7-tier gopuram made in the Pandyan style. The temple stands by the side of a tank, named Padma Theertham (meaning the lotus spring).

The long prakaram, with a terraced roof with 324 columns, measures 540 feet by 325 feet, and is about 24 feet wide. It has two rows of granite pillars, and every pillar bears an image of a Deepa Lakshmi. Also, here are images of Yalis (mythological animal), with non-removable stone balls in their mouths. This corridor extends from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum. Another notable part is the Navagraha Mandapa whose ceiling displays the Navagrahas. The Bali Peeda Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam are decorated with beautiful sculptures of various Hindu deities.

An 80-foot (24 m) flagstaff stands in front of the main entry from the prakaram (closed precincts of a temple). It is covered with gold plated copper sheets. The Kulasekhara mandapam near the flagstaff has fine sculptures dating back to the 17th century.  The ground floor under the gopuram (main entrance in the eastern side) is known as the 'Nataka Sala' where the famous temple art Kathakali was staged in the night during the ten-day Uthsavam (festival) conducted twice a year, during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam.

Presiding Deity is called as Padmanabhaswamy. He is housed in the sanctum sanctorum. He reclines on the serpent Anantha or Adi Sesha. The serpent has five hoods facing inwards, signifying contemplation. The Lord's right hand is placed over a Shiva Lingam. Sridevi-Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity and Bhudevi the Goddess of Earth, two consorts of Vishnu are by his side. Brahma emerges on a lotus, which emanates from the navel of the Lord. The deity is made from 12,008 saligramams. These saligrams are from the banks of the Gandaki River in Nepal, and to commemorate this certain rituals used to be performed at the Pashupatinath Temple.

The deity of Padmanabha is covered with, "Katusarkara yogam", a special ayurvedic mix, which forms a plaster that keeps the deity clean. The daily worship is with flowers and for the Abhishekam, special deities are used. The platforms in front of the Vimanam and where the deity rests are both carved out of a single massive stone and hence called "Ottakkal-mandapam". On the orders of Marthanda Varma (1706–58), the Ottakkal-mandapam was cut out of a rock at Thirumala, about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the temple.

It measured 20 square feet (1.9 m2; 190 dm2; 19,000 cm2) in area by 2.5 feet (30 in; 7.6 dm; 76 cm) thick and was placed in front of the deity in the month of Edavom 906 M.E. (1731 CE). At the same time, Marthanda Varma also brought 12,000 shaligrams, aniconic representations of Vishnu, from the Gandaki River, north of Benares (now known as Varanasi) to the temple. These were used in the reconsecration of the Padmanabha. In order to perform darshan and puja, one has to ascend to the mandapam.

The Deity is visible through three doors – the visage of the reclining Lord and Siva Linga underneath the hand is seen through the first door; Sridevi and Bhrigu Muni in Katusarkara, Brahma seated on a lotus emanating from the Lord's navel, hence the name, "Padmanabha", gold abhisheka moorthies of Lord Padmanabha, Sridevi and Bhudevi, and silver Utsava moorthi of Padmanabha through the second door; the Lord's feet, and Bhudevi and Markandeya Muni in Katusarkara through the third door. The idols of two goddesses holding chamaram, Garuda, Narada, Tumburu, the divine forms of the six weapons of Lord Vishnu, Surya, Chandra, Saptarishi (Seven Sages), Madhu, and Kaidaba are also there in the Sanctum.

Only the King of Travancore may perform Sashtanga namaskaram, or prostrate on the "Ottakkal Mandapam". It is traditionally held that anybody who prostrates on the mandapam has surrendered all that he possesses to the Deity. Since the ruler has already done that, he is permitted to prostrate on this mandapam. Vimanam over the sanctum is called as Hema Kooda Vimaanam. Mother is called as Hari Lakshmi Thaayar.

The sanctum of this temple is fashioned in the style of the temples of Kerala, while the surrounding walls and the towers resemble that of the Tamil (Dravidian architecture) temples. Interesting murals adorn the outer walls of the sanctum. The distinctive feature of the temple is that it has idols of the Lord in three postures. Main idol inside the sanctum is in the reclining posture; the idol seen through the central door in the standing posture, and there is an Utsava Murthi (the idol taken out for the festival processions) in the sitting posture.

Inside the Temple, there are two other important shrines, Thekkedom and Thiruvambadi, for the Deities, Ugra Narasimha and Krishna respectively. Thiruvambadi shrine enjoys an independent status and predates the shrine of Padmanabha. Thiruvambadi shrine has its own Namaskara mandapam, bali stones and flag mast. The Lord of Thiruvambadi is Parthasarathy, the Divine Charioteer of Arjuna. The granite idol of the Lord of Thiruvambadi was brought from Gujarat by 72 families of Vrishni Vamsa Kshatriyas. As these Vrishnis, belong to the lineage of Lord Krishna, they are known as Krishnan vakakkar.

The two-armed granite idol, with one hand holding the whip and the other resting on the left thigh holding the conch close to it, is in standing posture. On Ekadasi days the Lord is dressed and decorated as Mohini. The shrine is situated near the South Entrance of the temple. The shrine of Lord Narasimha Swamy is situated outside the main sanctum sanctorum near the main door. The temple has a separate shrine for Sree Dharma Sastha. The temple of Sree Maha Ganapathi is on the left side while entering from the main entrance. 

There are also shrines for Rama accompanied by Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, Vishwakasena (the Nirmalyadhari of Vishnu and Remover of Obstacles), Vyasa, Ganapati, Sastha, and Kshetrapala (who guards the temple). Grand idols of Garuda and Hanuman stand with folded hands in the Valiya balikkal area. The thevara idols of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma are housed in the south east part of the Temple.

There is a remarkable touch of the artisans is felt in a piece of carving which has the figure of an elephant on one side and that of a bull on the other. It is notable that the horns of the bull look like the tusks of the elephant when seen from the other side and the trunk of the elephant seems like the hump for the bull. Theerthams associated with this Temple are Matsya Theertham, Padma Theertham and Varaha Theertham.