Architecture
The architecture of the Temple is described by its stone and bronze work. The interior of the temple is decorated with lovely walls and paintings. Some of them are pictures of life-size Lord Vishnu in his relaxed pose, Lord Ganapati and Gaja Lakshmi, Narasimha Swamy (half-lion, half-man incarnation of Lord Vishnu). The temple is covered with gold-plated copper sheets with a flag-stamb that is roughly 80 ft high.
The temple, like Bali Peeda Mandapam, and Mukha Mandapam, has some remarkable construction characteristics. These are halls decorated with lovely statues of many Hindu deities. The Navagraha Mandapa, which shows the navagrahas on its ceiling, is another construction attracting notice (the nine planets).
There are two more significant shrines inside the Temple, Thekkedom and Thiruvambadi, respectively for Goddess, Ugra Narasimha and Krishna Swami.
Several lineages of Vrishni Kshatriyas travelled to the south centuries ago, bearing idols of Lord Balarama and Lord Krishna with them. When they arrived in Sree Padmanabha, they presented Neythasseri Potti with the idol of Balarama, also known as Bhaktadasa. This statue was installed at a temple established by Neythasseri Potti in Budhapuram, in the present-day Kanyakumari District. Maharaja Udaya Marthanda Varma of Venad was donated by the Vrishnis to the Idol of Krishna. In the precincts of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a separate sanctuary was built for this idol, known as Thiruvambadi. The temple of Thiruvambadi is independent. Thiruvambadi has a mandapam, bali stones and a flagmast of his own namaskara. Parthasarathi, the Divine Messenger of Arjuna, is Lord of Thiruvambadi. The double-armed stone idol, holding the whip on one side, and holding the conch on the left thigh near, stands still. The Lord is clothed and decked as a Mohini during the days of Ekadash. Krishnan vakakkar is known as the Vrishnies who came to Venad and established there because they belong to the lineage of Lord Krishna.
Features of Maha Kshetram (Great Temple)
Aside from the established spiritual and structural qualities, the 10 traits listed below increase the status of a temple to that of a Mahakshetram (Great Temple). Antiquity, historical significance, origin in a forest, proximity to an ocean, elevation, royal connections, mention in ancient literature, architectural splendour, and festival grandeur are among them. All of these qualities are present at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Ananthasayanam Idol
When twelve Salagramas stones are worshipped together, they are said to have the strength of a Mahakshetram (Great Temple). The inside of Sree Padmanabha Swamy's Katusarkara Idol is made out of twelve thousand and eight (12008) Salagramas obtained from the Gandaki River's bank in Nepal. Sree Maha Vishnu is represented by Salagramas. The magnificence and purity of a thousand great temples are showered upon this Temple.
The presence of Shiva
The holiness of a Maha Kshetram devoted to Vishnu is enhanced by the presence of Shiva within the Sreekovil. Lord Shiva's images can be found in several parts of the Temple. This Temple, like many others in Malayala Nadu, was free of the cult battles that so often damaged the face of orthodox religion in India. Siva's presence is valid evidence.
Ottakkal Mandapam
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple's Ottakkal Mandapam (single stone platform) is a beautiful design. The Mandapam stands in front of Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy's sanctum sanctorum. A single block of granite, two and a half feet thick and twenty feet square, was used to construct this structure. This Mandapam is where Sree Padmanabhaswamy's Abhishekams are performed. It has gold-covered granite pillars.
Abhisravana Mandapam
This construction is located in front of the Ottakkal Mandapam, but outside of the Cherruchuttu, which houses the sanctum sanctorum. Here, special poojas for Temple festivals are performed. This Mandapam is used by devotees for meditation and prayer.
Kulasekhara Mandapam
It is a magnificent and wonderful stone architectural achievement. Aayiramkaal Mandapam and Sapthaswara Mandapam are two other names for it. It is supported by 28 pillar balustrades. When the four corner pillars are tapped, they produce musical notes. Magnificently carved figures in half and full relief decorate the pillars.
The Golden flag-staff (Dwaja Stambham)
Anizham Tirunal constructed an eighty-foot high pole in the eastern corridor. A teak tree of this size was brought to the Temple from a neighbouring forest. The wood should not touch the ground while being transported, according to the Sastras. The gold foils were then used throughout teak pole. A statue of Garuda Swamy in a kneeling position adorns the flagpole's apex.
Nine Entrances
The Temple has nine entrances, representing the human body's nine orifices.
The Sreebalippura (Corridor)
Sreebalippura would be a magnificent Sreebalippura in the Temple. The Vahanams are carried out during Sreebali along this gorgeous rectangular hallway made of stone that surrounds the principal temples (procession). According to records, it took 6 months for 4000 stone artisans, 6000 workmen, and 100 elephants to complete the construction of the Sreebalippura.
Theerthams (Sacred water resources)
The Temple features a significant variety of precious water resources, some of which are even located outside of the Temple grounds. The most important of these, Padmatheertham, is located on the Temple's eastern side. Padmatheertham is one of the cities of Thiruvananthapuram's oldest water bodies.
Bells
The Temple is adorned with a large number of bells. A metal banian leaf is usually placed at the tip of the bell's tongue.
Multiplicity of Mandapams
The Temple's numerous Mandapams are another distinguishing feature (platforms). The Temple has 11 mandapams, whereas the Padmatheertham pond includes 8.
Mural Paintings
Murals adorn the outer walls of Lord Padmanabha's and Sree Krishna's sanctum sanctorums. The Ananthasayanam on the backside of the sanctum, which was painted by a Brahmin artist named Chalayil Kalahasti, is the largest of these murals among Kerala temple artwork. It measures 18 feet in length.
Thiruvambadi Sree Krishnaswamy Temple
Despite its location within the main Temple walls, the Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna Swamy Temple is treated as a separate temple with its own flagstaff, sacred stones, and rites and rituals. It's a unique situation.
Gopuram
The current gopuram's foundation was established around 1566. The temple contains a Pandyan-style 7-tier 100-foot (30-meter) gopuram. The Padma Theertham temple is located next to a tank (meaning the lotus spring). The temple includes a passageway with 365 and a quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with intricate carvings, which stands out as an ultimate testimony to the Vishwakarma sthapathis' work in sculpting this architectural masterpiece. From the eastern side, this hallway leads into the sanctum sanctorum. In front of the main entrance from the prakaram, an 80-foot (24-meter) flagstaff stands (closed precincts of a temple). The famed temple art Kathakali was staged in the night during the ten-day uthsavam (festival) held twice a year, during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam, on the ground floor under the gopuram (major entrance on the eastern side).
Deity
Maha Vishnu
Religious Activities
Daily Routine
Morning
03:30 am to 04:15 am, 05:15am to 06:15am, 08:30am to 11:00am, 12:00pm to 12:15pm
Evening
05.00 pm to 06.30 pm, 07:00pm to 07:20pm
Celebration/Festivals
· Alpasi Ulsavam
· Painkuni Utsavam
· Vinayaka Chathurthi
· Thiruvonam
· Ashtami Rohini
· Navarathri Pooja
· Valiya Ganapathi Homam
· Swargavathil Ekadasi
· Bhadradeepam
· Kalabham
· Sivarathri
· Sree Rama Navami
· Karkataka Sreebali
· Sree Veda Vyasa Jayanthi
· Lakshadeepam
Murajapam
Dress Code
When visiting the temple, there is a stringent clothing code that must be followed. Men must wear a dhoti or mundu.
Sari, mundum neriyathum (set-mundu), skirt and blouse, or half sari are required for women.
Dhotis can be rented at the temple's entrance. To avoid causing hardship to devotees, temple authorities now allow dhotis to be worn over pants or churidhar.
Visitor Guide
RAILWAYS:
Thiruvananthapuram Central is approximately 1 kilometre away.
AIRWAYS:
Trivandrum International Airport is approximately 6 kilometres away.
Nearby Temples
Nearby Tourist Places
Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple
The Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathy temple (Malayalam: ശ്രീപഴവങ്ങാടിമഹാഗണപതിക്ഷേത്രം) is located in the centre of Thiruvananthapuram City near East Fort. Sri Mahaganapathy is the temple's principal idol (Ganesha). The main idol is put in a seated position with the right leg folded in front of him. The Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple is in close proximity towards this temple. Dharmasasta, Goddess Durga, and Nagaraja are among the other Deities revered at the temple. Lord Ganesha is shown in 32 various forms in the temple sculptures.
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
Poovar is a small fishing village on the coast of Kerala, 35 kilometres from Trivandrum and 20 kilometres from Kovalam. Poovar Island is encircled by the Neyyar River. The Neyyar River rises in the Agastyarkoodam Hills near Trivandrum and flows for 56 kilometres before reaching the Arabian Sea. It conveys sand and mud during severe monsoons, forming an estuary that eventually becomes Poovar.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Padmanabhapuram Palace, also known as Kalkulam Palace, is a Travancore-era palace in Padmanabhapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. The government of Kerala, a neighbouring state, owns, controls, and maintains the palace. This palace is older than Rajasthan's Rambagh Palace. Perhaps this is India's oldest palace.
