Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

About the Temple & Location:

This is one of the most famous Divyadesam found in the State of Kerala. It is found 3/4 miles away from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. Lots of bus and train facilities are available. Special trains run from Chennai – Thiruvananthapuram. This place is also known as “Trivandrum”. Boarding and lodging facilities are also available.

Specials:

The Moolavar, Anantha Padmanabhar who is found in Kidantha (Palli Kondulla) kolam is said to be one of the specialty of this sthalam. A Shiva Lingam is found close to the Thirumugham of the Moolavar, which explains to the world that both Hari and Haran are not two different and separate Gods, but they are a Single and should be worshipped as one.

Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple -Thiruvananthapuram

Moolavar:

The Moolavar of this Thiruvanandhapura Kshetram is Sri Anantha Padmanabhan. Moolavar is found in Kidantha (sleeping) kolam in Bhujangha Sayanam and facing his thirumugham along the Eastern direction. He gave his Prathyaksham for Indiran, Chandiran (the moon god) and Ekadesai Ruthraas.

Thayaar

The Thaayar of this sthalam is Sri Hari Lakshmi Thaayar.

Mangalasasanam:

Nammalwar is the only Alwar who has done Mangalasasanam on this Perumal and with 11 Paasurams.

Pushkarani:

Mathsya Theertham.

Padma Theertham.

Varaha Theertham.

Vimanam:

The Vimmanam of this temple is Hema Kooda Vimaanam.

Utsavams:

There are two main Utsavams done in this Divyadesam in a very great manner. One of the Utsavams fall during the month of March – April and another during the month of September – October. Bothe these utsavams lasts for 10 days.

Sthlapuranam :

In this sthalam, the Perumal, Sri Padmanabha Swamy, who is also called as “Thamarai Manaalan”, is found in Kidantha thirukkolam in Sayana position, sleeping on top of Aadhiseshan, who is also referred to as “Ananthan”. Since the Perumal is found in Sayana postion on Ananthan, the Perumal is called as “Anantha Padmanabha Swamy” and the Kshtram is referred to as “Thiru Ananthapuram”.

The Anantha Padmanabha Perumal is found in Sayana Kolam and since the Perumal is too big is structure, we can get the Dharshan of the Perumal in a single way. We can onl ysee him in 3 Vaayils (entrance).

Through the First Entrance (Vaasal), we can see the Thirumugham (Face) of the Perumal.

Through the First Vaasal, the Thiru Unndhi (stomach part) can be seen and Through the Final, Third Vaasal, we can see the Thiruvadi (feet) of the Perumal found in the Garbhagraham.

The entire world is Governed and Protected by Emperumaan, Sriman Narayanan. The Indira Lokam (or) otherwise called as “Swargham” is ruled by Indiran and Varunan, the rain god is one of the important person who belong to the Indra Lokam.

The rain God, Varuna is necessary for giving the rain to this entire world and thereby making the land fertile and rich in its wealth.

Similarly, Indiran is necessary for making all the Grahans (the planets) to revolve and as a result of its revolvement, he should calculate the days count and thereby making the people live and make them happy. Likewise, Ekadasa Rudrars, who are the hamsam of Lord Shiva, the Rudra. All these 3 persons (i.e.) Indiran, Varunan and Ekadasa Rudrars are given the sabham of doing some wrong things at certain stages.

All these 3 persons are given the Sabha Vimocchanam (getting out from the sabham) by the Anantha Padmanabha Perumal of this sthalam who can be seen through 3 vaasals and each vaasal explaining the 3 stages (ie) the birth, the leading of life and the final stage, the death.

We know that the Dharshan of the Perumal can be seen separately in 3 different Vaasals. Let us now get into details why the Perumal is giving his seva in this kind. The lifetime of a Person is segregated into 3 different stages (ie) First is the birth; Second is the time where the life progresses and Final third stage is the death.

Through the First vaasal, we can get the Dharshan of the Perumal’s Thirumugham. The Perumal, through his divine eyes, which is referred to as the “Thaamarai Kankal” (eyes that is referred to Lotus Flower) is seeing all the lives of the Jeevathmaas and thereby making them to survive and lead their lifetime.

Through the Second vaasal, we can see the “Thiru Unndhi” which is otherwise called as the lower part of the stomach. This place is said to be originated place of Lord Brahma deva, who is responsible for giving birth to the Jeevathmaas.

In the Third Entrance (vaasal), we can see the Thiruvadi (divine feet) of the Perumal, which is the final place where all of the Jeevathmaas merge towards Paramathma. The Thiruvadi of the Perumal is said to be the safest and the pure place, where all the pure rivers originates.

How, all the small rivers join (or) merge towards the ocean, all the souls (Jeevaraasi) merge towards Thiruvadi (or) Thirupaadham of the Emperumaan, Sriman Narayanan. Periya pirattiyaar, with the name of Kadal Magal Naachiyaar who is gracing in Thiruppaarkadal in Veetrirundha thriukkolam along with Anantha Padmanabha Perumal is found in this sthalam.

Once, there was a saint by named “Divakara yogi”, who wanted to get the Mukthi (the ultimate destiny, the moksha) and to attain it, he did the pooja to Saligramam (a precious and Valuable spritiual stone) in this sthalam. At that time, the Perumal came there like a two years old child and took the Saligramam along with him and ran away from that place. On seeing this action of the child, the saint got angry and chased him to get the Saligramam. And finally, the small child went into the big hole of a tree and after going inside the tree, the tree fell down and the Perumal gave his sayana seva as Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. He gave the seva for which the saint, Divakara yogi was doing the daily pooja. This is one of the historic story said about this sthalam.

This story which is said about this sthalam has a closer resemblance with the Perumal, who is found in Thirukkannankudi in Chozha Naadu. Like wise in this sthalam, the Perumal who came like a small child who took the Saligramam resembled like a small kid and ate the Perumal who is made of the white butter which doesn’t melt. The Perumal who is made of butter, is the Perumal who is done with daily poojas by Vashistar. Finally along with other Maharishis, they caught the small kid, who then gave his seva as “Damodharan” and that Perumal is also named as “Shyamala Meni Perumal”, in standing posture (Nindra Thirukkolam).

To explain more on this, a Hanuman Sannadhi is located in front of SriYoga Narasimhar sannadhi in this temple. Here, the Special adornment (kolam), the Vennai Kaappu kolam for Hanumar is done and it is said that this butter doesn’t melt even in hot days.

Separate sannadhis for Yoga Narasimhar, Hanuman, Lakshmi Varaha, Sri Krishna and Sri Srinivasar are found and are said to be most powerful gods with lots of powers.