Padmanabha Swami Temple Treasure..

The PadmanabhaSwami temple treasure….All are trying to calculate how worth the treasure is in money.

But I was just thinking of the devotion or Bhakthi behind each piece of ornament found. When people criticize idol worshipping and ask why Hindu Gods need gold and precious stones, we have many answers to give. But the non believer will never understand the spiritual aspect of such offerings.

Hindus see God in everything, “in the pillar, in the rust” as Prahladan said, or in the stones the human hands carve into shapes of God and the chaithanyam brought to it through mantras and other rituals. We see God in all elements or Panchabhootha. So we consider in offering the very best to the Gods. The costly silks and Gold was always given to temples by devotees.

Now coming to the Gold ornaments of Padmanabha Swami….I’m most amazed at the golden “anki”which is said to be present among the valuables. Just imagine how the goldsmith or a group of them gave shape to it.. In the days when there were no modern equipments which helps in melting or moulding solid gold into intrinsic shapes, how they made the huge ‘anki’. I can imagine the 18 feet long “Thanka Angi” in the shape of the presiding idol. Every inch should be precise and of correct measurement, otherwise it would not fit the idol. The beautiful nose, the hands and fingers, every part of the body made with complete dedication, devotion or faith, must be the reason of its beauty.

Then comes the 18 feet long chain of gold coins…Kasu maala.

Everything is made in pure gold, without adding silver or copper, which makes it more difficult to cast into shapes.

Rich or poor, the one who offered those precious stones to God, instead of keeping all wealth to themselves is really rich in faith.

I wish Padmanabha Swami be adorned with the “Anki” and all precious ornaments and give Darshan to us, devotees. I think the best place to keep them safe is the idol itself. Don’t we, his devotees deserve to see Him adorned in all that beautiful and invaluable treasure atleast once? That would be the real “Viswaroopa Darshanam” for us.