Specialised agency to value Kerala temple treasure

The Joint Committee appointed by the Supreme Court n the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple on Tuesday decided to set up a highly specialised agency for valuing the treasures found in its vaults.

However, no decision was taken opening the last vault.

The treasure of valuable jewels has been estimated to be worth Rs. 1 lakh crore.

The National Museum Director general C V Anand Bose, who is the head of one of the committees while speaking to the reporters after the joint meeting said that Tuesday's meeting has done everything to begin with the second round of the job that the apex court had entrusted them.

Bose added that the work of estimation will be entrusted with an agency who will be competent in this field and they will soon begin with the work. Also added that they will soon inform the apex court about their decisions that was arrived a today's meeting.

On a petition filed by a former IPS official TP Sunderarajan, out of the six vaults it  had opened five vaults of the temple and it was in the month of July that a committee was appointed by the apex court so as to estimate the value of the treasure from the vault A which was unopened for more than 150 years.

Later on July 17, Sunderarajan passed away.

Following this, the apex court again intervened. A bench of Justice R V Raveendran and Justice A K Patnaik last month appointed two different committees – one consisting of five experts headed by Bose mandated to videograph and photograph the articles found in vault A of the temple and another three member committee, to be headed by Justice M N Krishnan, to oversee the operations of the expert committee.

Tuesday's meeting however did not take up the case on whether vault B, which contains priceless treasures, is to be opened.

News Reported by AR for Newsvision

Devaprasnam continues to reveal disturbing signs

Unpleasantness continued to be cloud over the temple affairs on the second day of Devaprasnam at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here on Tuesday. Lord's displeasure poured out aplenty similar to the first day. The Devaprasnam found out that the revelation of treasures has seriously discomfited the God since the treasures are inexorably linked to the preservation of 'chaitanya' and hence they should have a secret nature. Referring to the unopened 'B' vault, the astrologers said that the chaitanya of the temple is closely associated with the 'B' vault and disturbing certain rooted tradition could unleash the wrath of God. Since the temple is of extreme national significance, any such inauspicious signs related to temple could also affect the nation and even the existence of the administrative set-up. The curses of Brahmin society who once took care of the temple and who was later evicted still linger over the temple, indicated the astrologers.

The rituals and customs in the temple were found to have long lost the sanctity with which such rituals ought to be performed. There is something called fear of God. All those who look after the temple affairs have unfortunately come to dispossess the fear of God, said Madhur Narayana Rangabhattu, the Chief astrologer. It was also pointed out that the people on duty in the temple have profaned the ambience of the temple. The astrologers said that those associated with the temple affairs have indulged in activities so unsuited to a temple including immoral activities and that too inside the temple.

Meanwhile, the Devaprasnam also listed out certain special poojas to be performed to cleanse the temple and to appease the Lord.

The final judgment will be taken on Wednesday.

 News reported By, SM

Supreme court halts opening of Padmanabhaswamy temples last vault

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered for the halting of the last vault of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum. A bench of justices RV Raveendran and AK Patnaik asked the petitioner Raja Marthanda Varma, erstwhile the Prince of Kerala, and the Kerala government to come out with appropriate suggestions for ensuring the sanctity and the security of the ancient temple. The apex court while ordering for the halting of last vault posted the matter for further hearing on coming Thursday. During the arguments, KK Venugopal, appearing for the erstwhile Prince of Kerala, clarified that the temple of the property was a public property and no member of the royal family claims any right or ownership over the huge property. He told the Bench that the property of the temple belongs to Lord Padmanabhaswamy and said that the royal family is not claiming any ownership. It is a public temple and it is not claiming any ownership of property. The Royal Family which is the trustee of the temple has challenged the Kerala government's decision to take over the administration of the temple which was earlier upheld by the Kerala High Court. During Friday's arguments, huge security should be observed in and around the temple in view of the discovery of the huge wealth. Counsel Venugopal also clarified that the value of the treasure reportedly discovered from the temple was not authentic as there were various media speculations. The bench remarked it as they were the valuation by the media. They were newspaper valuations. The apex court on July 6th, had directed videography on the ongoing unearthing of treasure troves inside the chambers of temple. The bench had also proposed the appointment of a curator of a museum to preserve the treasure unearthed from the temple. The court had also barred the observer, supervising the unearthing of the temple's treasure, from giving any interview of the process, saying the matter is related to the state. The apex court earlier had passed an interim order on a plea filed by Rama Varma's uncle Marthanda Varma staying the high court's order for takeover of the management and assets of the temple. The court also directed for a detailed inventory of the articles, valuables and ornaments found from the temple's treasure trove. Reported by,       AR