The Deity of the Travancore rulers – Sree Padmanabha became the endearing, all-pervading benediction and guardian of this 1000 year old city – Thiruvananthapurarn. Here, it is interesting to note that the city has taken the name of the protector of the Lord – the 1000 headed Divine serpent – “Ananta” – on whose coiled body, the Lord sleeps. Ananta’s hood with its 2000 eyes, while giving shade to the Lord’s head, keeps vigil while He rests.
Legends are not equated with recorded evidence by historians. A legend is accepted if there are enough corroborating evidences to support it. But recorded evidence is accepted much more directly than legends. So how should one consider the recorded evidence found in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple? Among the thousands of palm leaf records in the temple archives, one leaf shows certain important informations regarding the antiquity of the temple. It shows that the king Kotha Marthandan constructed the “Ahisravana Mandapa ” in the temple just after the demise of king Pareekshith following a snake bite.
The Holy Gita is the essence of the Vedas, Upanishads. It is a universal scripture applicable to people of all temperaments and for all times. It is a book with sublime thoughts and practical instructions on Yoga, Devotion, Vedanta and Action. It is profound in thought and sublime in heights of vision. It brings peace and solace to souls that are afflicted by the three fires of mortal existence, namely, afflictions caused by one’s own body (disease etc), those caused by beings around one ( e.g. wild animals, snakes etc.), and those caused by the gods (natural disasters, earth-quakes, floods etc).
What humanity needs is not pleasure and prosperity. Peace and happiness constitute the true strength of man. Everyone has the divine magnetic power latent in him. Man is the storehouse of heat energy, electrical energy, laser power, etc. Human body is like a small generator of electricity. The heart is like a television set and mind is like a camera. There is no power in the world that is not latent in man. Though all powers are latent in him, man out of his ignorance considers himself weak and mean. He misuses such a precious human life and consequently faces hardships.
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram is one among the 108 Thirupathis, one among the 7 Mukthi Sthanams and one among the 6 Narayana Sthalams. It is equivalent to 1000 Mahakshethras because the Vigraha (idol) is made up of 12008 Salagramams (l2 Salagramas will make a Mahakshethra). One can say with absolute certainty that there is no other temple which had played such an intimate role in the political history of a Princely State, in the history of its Royal Family, in the history of certain very powerful lobhies, and in the history of the Victory of Dharma over Adharma.
The rituals at the temple begins with the ‘TRIKKAPPU TURAPPU’, ie., daily morning at 3′ O clock, the temple/shrine (Garbha Griham) opens with the mellifluous sounds of the Sanghu and Panchavadyam. This is followed by’ ABHISHEKAM’ for the Abhisheka Moorthies comprising Sree Padmanabhaswamy, Lakshmi Devi and Bhoomi Devi. The ‘ETHIRETTU POOJA’ comes next and is the pooja of adored welcome.