Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple: A Legacy of Faith and Vaibhav

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is a jewel in the crown of Indian heritage. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the grandeur of the temple transcends its religious significance, captivating the hearts of people with its rich history, architectural splendour and wealth.

Table of contents
 

1.Where is Padmanabhaswamy temple located?
2.Importance of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple
3.Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple: History and Religious Significance
4.Architecture of Padmanabhaswamy Temple
5.Spirit of Thiruvananthapuram
6.Dress Code at Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple
7.Timings of worship at Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Where is Padmanabhaswamy temple located?

Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abode of Lord Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It is widely considered to be the richest Hindu temple in the world. The name of the city 'Thiruvananthapuram' in Malayalam and Tamil translates as "City of Anantha" (Anantha is a form of Vishnu). The temple is built in an intricate blend of Kerala style and Dravidian architectural style, with high walls and a 16th-century gopuram. While according to some traditions the Ananthapura temple at Kumbla in Kasaragod district of Kerala is considered to be the original spiritual seat ("moolasthanam") of the deity.

Importance of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple

Padmanabhaswamy is considered to be the richest temple in the world. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple has a very old history, which begins in the eighth century. It is one of the 108 revered Vishnu temples in India, commonly known as Divya Desam. The most sacred places visited by Lord Vishnu are called Divya Desams, and they are mentioned in manuscripts written by Indian saints.

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple: History and Religious Significance

History

The history of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is centuries old. The time of construction of the temple is not known with certainty, however, it is believed to date back to the 8th century. Some historians believe that this temple may also be from 3000 BC.

The first written mention about the temple is found in texts written by Tamil saints of the 9th century. In these texts, the temple is known as "Anantapuram", a reference to "Anant Sheshnaga", on which Lord Vishnu rests.

In the 16th century, the kings of Travancore renovated the temple and made it the centre of their capital. Since then, the temple has been closely associated with the Travancore royal family.

Religious significance

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is one of the 108 divine temples of Vishnu, which are mentioned in the texts written by South Indian saints.

In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, Lord Vishnu in his resting form, is lying on Sheshnag. This idol is called "Anantha Shayanam", which symbolises "eternal sleep".

Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu will rest here until the end of Kaliyuga, after which he will awaken to save the world from evil.

Architecture of Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is not only known for its religious importance but is also famous all over the world for its amazing architecture.

Temple architecture

India is renowned for its exquisite historical and modern monuments. However, there is one distinctively built temple whose interior experience is difficult to put into words. Lord Padmanabha, also called Lord Vishnu, is an avatar of Vishnu and is worshipped at the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala. The temple is square with two concentric squares and has four entrances. The whole temple complex is decorated with this unique style. Lord Padmanabha resides in the inner temple edifice, which is a square with eight chambers encircling a central chamber.
The walls, ceilings, and pillars of the temple are covered in elaborate carvings depicting historical tales. Furthermore, other sculptures portray episodes from the ancient Hindu writings known as the Puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. The intricate pictures adorning the walls resemble miniature paintings.
Several smaller temples are also located in the temple complex, dedicated to various Hindu deities.
Spirit of Thiruvananthapuram

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is not just a religious place but also the soul of Thiruvananthapuram. This temple has existed as the cultural and religious center of the city for centuries. Every year thousands of devotees come to visit this temple and seek the blessings of Lord Padmanabhaswamy.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple dress code

It is necessary to follow a specific dress code to enter the sacred hall of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is a sign of respect towards the sacred place.
For men, wear a dhoti, a traditional garment wrapped around the waist that reaches the ankles (knees). Shirts and kurtas are not allowed in the temple premises.
Women, on the other hand, have a wider selection of suitable attire. They can choose the saree, a quintessential Indian attire, the mundum neriyatum (similar to a dhoti), a skirt and blouse combination or even a half saree. Understanding the needs of modern devotees, the temple authorities have recently relaxed the dress code a bit. Women can now wear dhoti over their existing pants or churidar (leggings) for added comfort.
If you don't feel ready, don't worry! Dhoti are easily available on rent near the entrance of the temple, ensuring a seamless and dignified visit.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple near tourist places

Attukal Temple: The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is only two kilometres away from the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The goddess Kannagi, who is revered at the temple, is thought to be a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. Every year, the Temple celebrates the well-known Attukal Pongal festival in the months of February and March. The festival holds the record for the largest single assembly of women for a religious event, according to Guinness World Records.

Andoor Kandan Sree Dharma Sastha Temple: One of the most well-known temples devoted to Lord Dharmasastha, sometimes referred to as Lord Ayyappa, is the Andoor Kandan Sree Dharma Sastha Temple. The god is facing west. The god is seen in the Nyaana Mudra or Chin Mudra pose, which represents the merger of Atma and Paramaatma.

Temple of Amunthirathu Devi: This temple honours Goddess Amunthirathamma, who is thought to be a manifestation of Goddess Bhadrakali. The idol's construction from Krishna Shila, which depicts the Ardha Padmasana pose, is what makes it special. The idol's length is 48 Angula (1 Angula = 1.76 cm), according to an antiquated system of measurement. The four stands for the four sacred Vedas. The eight is a symbol for prosperity known as Ashtaishwaryam. They are Adhi, Veera, Sandhana, Gaja, Bhagya, Dhanya, Dhana, and Vijaya.

Janardhana Swamy Temple: The 2000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple is situated 15 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram in Varkala. According to temple legends, Lord Vishnu gave Lord Brahma a glimpse of his "Vishwaroopam" form as he was performing a Yagna at this location. It is also thought that this is the location where the nine Prajapathis of Lord Brahma performed a Yagna to beg Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma's pardon after they mocked and laughed at them.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple darshan timings

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is open from 3:30 AM to 7:20 PM. In addition, the temple conducts a number of rites during this time. These rituals, which include the morning, afternoon, and evening poojas, might involve the devotees.
The timings are as follows- 

Deeparadhana - 3:30 to 4:45 am
Early morning darshan - 6:30 to 7:30 am
Morning darshan - 8:30 to 10:00 am
Darshan - 10:30 to 11:10 am
Afternoon aarti - 11:45 am to 12:00 pm
Evening darshan - 5:00 to 6:15 pm
Evening aarti - 06:45 to 7:20 pm