Divya Desam · Ananthasayana · Thiruvananthapuram
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The spiritual anchor of the Travancore Kingdom, where the Lord reclines upon the serpent Ananta in eternal yogic sleep.
History & Heritage
The Lord and the Kingdom
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is deeply intertwined with the history of the Travancore Royal Family. In 1750, Maharaja Marthanda Varma dedicated his entire kingdom to the Lord in a ceremony called Thrippadi Danam, ruling thereafter as a 'Padmanabha Dasa' (servant of the Lord). This unique relationship between the crown and the temple has preserved the shrine's sanctity and vast wealth for centuries.
The Main Deity
Ananthasayana Vishnu
The presiding deity is a colossal 18-foot long idol made of 12,008 Saligrams brought from the Gandaki River in Nepal. The Lord is seen in the 'Ananthasayana' posture, reclining on the thousand-headed serpent Ananta. The idol is viewed through three separate doors: the first showing the face and the Shiva Lingam under the right hand; the second showing Brahma on a lotus emerging from the navel; and the third showing the feet.
Architecture
A Fusion of Styles
The temple is a rare blend of the Kerala style and the Dravidian style of Tamil Nadu. Its massive 100-foot Seven-Tiered Gopuram is a masterpiece of stone carving, while the 'Ottakkal Mandapam' is a single-stone platform of immense proportions. The 'Seevelippura' corridor is lined with 365 granite pillars, each bearing intricate relief sculptures of deities and mythological scenes.
Pilgrimage Guide
Dress Code
Mandatory traditional attire: Dhoti/Mundu for men and Saree/Skirt for women.
Best Time
The Alpasi and Painkuni festivals, featuring the grand Aarattu procession to the Shangumugham beach.
Key Feature
Known as the wealthiest place of worship in the world due to its ancient subterranean vaults.
Om Namo Narayanaya
Ananta-shayana mudra ma birajman Bhagwan Padmanabha tamara jivan ma shanti ane samruddhi sthapit kare.