Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Introduction

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, is one of the most sacred Vishnu temples in India. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams – the holy shrines of Vishnu praised by the Alwar saints – and the city itself takes its name from the Lord: Thiru-Anantha-Puram, "the city of the sacred Anantha". The temple is closely linked with the former royal family of Travancore, who have served the Lord as his devotees for centuries.

Dress Code and Entry Rules

The temple has one of the strictest dress codes of any temple in Kerala, and it is checked at the entrance. Please dress accordingly:

• Men: must wear a mundu or dhoti reaching down towards the ankles, and enter without a shirt or vest of any kind. An angavastram (a cloth over the shoulders) may be draped.
• Women: must wear a saree, mundum-neriyathum (set-mundu), or a long skirt with a blouse. Churidar and salwar kameez alone are not permitted; they are allowed only if a mundu or cloth is wrapped over them. Jeans and other western wear are not permitted.
• Entry: entry into the temple is permitted only for Hindus.
• Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside; deposit facilities are available nearby.

Dhotis and mundus can be rented near the temple entrance for visitors who need them.

Main Deity – Anantha Padmanabha

The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu as Sree Padmanabha, in the Anantha Shayana posture – reclining on the great serpent Anantha (Adi Sesha), in yogic sleep. A lotus rises from the Lord's navel, with Lord Brahma seated on it, which is why he is called Padma-nabha, "the one with a lotus in his navel". The image is so large that devotees see it through three doors: the face and upper body through the first, the navel and Brahma through the second, and the feet through the third.

The idol is traditionally said to be made of thousands of sacred saligrama stones, covered with a special herbal compound called katusarkara yogam. Because of this, the Lord is not bathed with water; instead, worship is offered with flowers and other offerings.

History

Worship at this place is very ancient and is praised in the Tamil hymns of the Alwar saints. The temple was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the founder of the Travancore kingdom. In a famous act of devotion known as Thrippadidanam, he dedicated his entire kingdom to Sree Padmanabha, and from then on the rulers of Travancore governed as Padmanabha Dasas – servants of the Lord. The royal family's close association with the temple continues to this day.

The Temple Vaults

The temple has several underground vaults (kallaras) in which offerings made to the Lord over many centuries have been kept. In 2011, on the direction of the Supreme Court of India, an inventory of the vaults was made, recording a large collection of gold, jewellery and other valuable objects that belong to the deity. In 2020, the Supreme Court upheld the traditional role of the Travancore royal family in the temple's administration, which is carried out through committees set up for the purpose.

Architecture

The temple blends the Dravidian and Kerala traditions. Its tall seven-tiered gopuram on the eastern side, in the South Indian Dravidian style, is a landmark of the city, and stands above the sacred tank Padma Theertham. Inside, a long corridor lined with richly carved granite pillars surrounds the shrine, and the temple is adorned with fine stone and wood carvings and murals.

Festivals

• Painkuni Utsavam (March–April) and Alpashy Utsavam (October–November): the two great ten-day festivals of the year. Each ends with the Aarattu, when the festival idols are taken in a grand procession to Shankhumukham beach for a ceremonial bath in the sea.
• Lakshadeepam: held once every six years, when the temple is lit with a lakh (one hundred thousand) lamps after a long period of special rituals.
• Navaratri (September–October): celebrated with music, including a classical music festival associated with the composer-king Swathi Thirunal.

Temple Timings

• The temple opens very early in the morning and is open in the morning and again in the evening, with darshan at set times.
• Timings change on festival days. Please check locally before your visit.

How to Reach

By Air: the nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), about 6 km away.

By Train: Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station is about 1 km from the temple.

By Road: the temple is in East Fort, in the city centre, close to the central bus station. Autos and taxis are easily available.

Visitor Information

• Dress code: please follow the dress code above – it is strictly enforced at the entrance.
• Darshan: take time to see the Lord through all three doors, one after another.
• Best time to visit: October to March, when the weather is pleasant; early mornings are less crowded.
• Nearby places: Padma Theertham, the Puthe Maliga Palace Museum, Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Shankhumukham beach, Kovalam, and – further north in Kerala – Sri Guruvayurappan Temple, Guruvayur.