Thiruvanantapuram

Thiruvanantapuram is traditionally enumerated as number 82 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram is held in high regard by all Vaishnavites. It is located on the most elevated part of a vast plain in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. When one reaches the city the tall eastern gopuram (temple tower) which is seven storeys high strikes one’s eye. The very name Thiruvananthapuram means it is the abode of the Lord who reclines on the sacred serpent viz., Anantha or Adisesha. The great Vaishnava saint Nammalvar who lived in the 9th century A.D. has composed verses in praise of Sri Padmanabhaswamy. Hence this temple must have existed even before the 9th century A.D. The hoary antiquity of this temple is revealed by the mention of it in the various puranas. In Padmapurana there is a reference to the temple of Ananthasayanam where the Lord is said to be lying in Yoga nidra pose. In Skanda purana, Sethu Mahatmya, Brahma Kanda Chapter 52, verses 102 to 105 the temple for Sri Padmanabhaswamy at Tiruvananthapuram is referred to as one of the important places of pilgrimage. Bhagavath purana Canto X Chapter 79 says that Balarama visited Syanandoorapuram which is another name for Tiruvananthapuram. This temple owes a lot to the Rajas of Travancore. The Rajas are known as Padmanabha dasas, that is, they are the ever-obedient vassals of Lord Padmanabha. Even today the members of the princely family go to the shrine every day. It is said that they used to partake of their morning meals only after the noon-day worship at the temple was over. It is also believed that once Umayamma Rani, grandmother of Marthanda Varma, during her reign 1677-1684 had to fotego her noon meal as for some unknown reason worship could not be performed in the temple that day. Even upto the 1930s any poor brahmins, orphans, widows or destitutes who came to the temple for darshan were given two free meals a day, thanks to the liberal munificent donations made by the Maharajas.

One writer waxes eloquent about this temple and says! “Volumes after volumes can be written about the various aspects of the temple; the stupendous structure, its sumptuous architecture, its prodigious lay out, its thematic brilliance, the conceptual grandeur and above all the magnificence and profundity of the devotional belief of the long line of rulers of Travancore whose dedication to the enshrined tutelary deity alone has been responsible for the glory of this great temple and its undying fame..... The abiding faith ofthe founding fathers of Travancore Royalty, their faith and devotion alone has sustained the temple, preserving its great traditions in their pristine purity and sweep”.