INDIAN TEMPLE MORE TREASURE TUMBLES OUT OF SHRINE

SRI PADMANABHA SWAMI TEMPLE
TREASURE CHAMBERS OPENED

Thiruvananthapuram, India - Treasure continued to tumble out of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple as a Supreme Court appointed committee found more gold idols, coins and other assets on the sixth day of inspection in the shrine’s hidden vaults.  Unconfirmed reports said the total value of all assets recovered from the shrine could be worth nearly US$ 22 billion.   Among the notable discoveries was an ancient gold statue of a three-and-a-half feet tall Lord Vishnu studded with precious diamonds and emeralds.  Sources said its value could not be assessed due to its antiquity.  There were also human figurines made of pure gold, each weighing 2.2 lbs. as well as 18-foot-long jewelery weighing 77 lbs. used to adorn the Deity.  Bags of coins and precious stones were also found in chamber A, one of six vaults marked A to F.

The treasure trove in Kerala temple includes a gold sheaf weighing 500 kilos, a 36-kilo golden veil, 1200 ‘Sarappalli’ golden chains, some sporting ‘navaratnas’, three gold stone-studded crowns, diamonds, precious stones, including cat’s eye, rubies and emeralds and 1,000 kg of gold coins.  Acting on a petition, the Kerala high court had in January asked the state government to take over the administration of the temple and also prepare an inventory of its assets. The shrine is run by a trust constituted by the royal family. On appeal, the SC stayed the take over part but gave nod to stock-taking.  According to legend, the Travancore kings had transferred loads of wealth, meant for use during famines to these secret chambers to protect them from the British.

Temples in India often have rich endowments, mainly from donations of gold and cash by pilgrims and wealthy patrons, but the wealth discovered at Padmanabhaswamy dwarfs the known assets of every other Indian temple. Such assets are typically meant to be used by administrators to operate temples and provide services to the poor, but they have often become the subject of heated disputes and controversies.   The state should not seek control of the temple or its treasure, because it is donated to the temple from disciples and believers; it's the property of the temple.  It has nothing to do with the state.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

The grihasthas should give contributions for constructing temples of the Supreme Lord and for preaching of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, or Krishna consciousness, all over the world.  In the śāstras - the Purānas and other Vedic literatures - there are so many narrations describing the transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and everyone should hear them again and again. ... That is the nature of transcendental literature. The Krishna consciousness movement therefore affords one an opportunity to spend his extra earnings for the benefit of all human society by expanding Krishna consciousness. In India especially we see hundreds and thousands of temples that were constructed by the wealthy men of society who did not want to be called thieves and be punished.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 7: “The Science of God”
Chapter 14: “Ideal Family Life” - Verse 8
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase