Sree Ananta Padmanabhaswamy
Temple Front view
Temlpe at 3.30.a.m
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindutemple dedicated to Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore.The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. The temple, constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Alvarsaints (6th-9th centuries CE), with structural additions to it made throughout the 16th century The temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital Thiruvananthapuram. ‘Thiru’ ‘Anantha’ ‘Puram’ means Sacred Abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha.
The principal deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is enshrined in the "Ananta-sayanam" posture (in the eternal sleep of Yoga-nidra on the serpent Ananta).
Treasure of Villena, the second biggest prehistoric gold finding in Europe
Treasure of Villena, the second biggest prehistoric gold finding in Europe
In late June 2011, a review of the temple's underground vaults was undertaken by a seven-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court of Indiato generate an inventory, leading to the enumeration of a vast collection of articles that are traditionally kept under lock and key. Estimates suggest that the temple could be one of the wealthiest in the world; unofficial estimates on the sixth day of the inventory placed the value of contents at close to Rs 100,000 crore (US$22.3 billion). The precious articles come from the donations that were made by theTravancore Royal family and traders, who used to come from other parts of the country and abroad, as offerings to the deity, and were sealed within the thick stone walls and vaults of the temple for over a millennium. The temple may turn out to be wealthier than the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh– by official records considered to be the richest shrine in the world
Kingdom of Travancore / Royal Family of Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom (1729-1858) and Indian Princely State (1858-1947) with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore
Marthanda Varma
King Marthanda Varma (1729-1758) is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore " from the feudal kingdom of Venad
Dharma Raja
Marthanda Varma's successor Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1758-1798) who was popularly known as Dharma Raja, shifted the capital in 1795 fromPadmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram. Dharma Raja's period is considered as a Golden Age in the history of Travancore.
Avittom Thirunal Balarama Varma (c. 1782–1810) was a ruler of the Indian princely state of Travancore from 1798 to 1810, succeeding Maharajah Dharma Raja. His rule of Travancore was full of disturbances and internal and external problems. The revolt of Velu Thampi occurred during his reign
Maharani Ayilyom Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi (1791–1814) was the Maharani of the Indian state of Travancore from 1810 till 1813 and Regent from 1813 till her death in 1814 for her son Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. She was the only Queen of Travancore to have reigned in her own right for two years before becoming a regent.
Maharani Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvati Bayi was the Regent of the Indian state of Travancore who succeeded her sister Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi from 1815 till her regency was relinquished in favour of her nephew, Maharajah Swathi Thirunal, in 1829
Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (April 16, 1813 - December 25, 1846) was theMaharaja of the state of Travancore , in India. He reigned under the regency of his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi from 1813 till 1815 and henceforth under the regency of his aunt Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi from 1815 till 1829. In 1829 he turned major and assumed full powers of ruler and ruled Travancore till his demise in 1846
Sri Uthram Thirunal
Sri Uthram Thirunal (26 September 1814 - 18 August 1860) was the Maharajah of Travancore state in southern India, succeeding his elder brother Maharajah Swathi Thirunal in 1846 till his demise in 1860. Known for his progressive rule, he abolished slavery in the kingdom. He was succeeded by his nephew Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal in 1860
Sri Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma
Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma (1832 – 1880) was the ruler of the princely state of Travancore in India from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful with Travancore gaining the appellation of "model state of India
Sri Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma (19 May 1837 - 4 August 1885) was the Maharaja of the erstwhile Indiankingdom of Travancore from 1880-1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the throne of Travancore
Sri Moolam Thirunal
Sir (Moolam Thirunal) Rama Varma Maharajah of Travancore GCSI, GCIE, MRAS was the rulingMaharajah of the Indian state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885).
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi
Maharani Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, CI (1895 – 1985) was the ruler of Travancore as regent for her nephew, Chithira Tirunal from 1924 until late 1931. She is known for continuing the progressive tradition of the Travancore rulers preceding her with many social and economic reforms
Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharaja (November 7, 1912–July 19, 1991) was the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Travancore