Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Property Missing and Damaged
Read this article 'Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Property Missing and Damaged'.It is reported by a commission appointed by the session’s court of Thiruvananthapuram to open and hand over certain pooja items to the temple authorities on the occasion of the 'Arpasi' festival special poojas of Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple. While handing over the items to the temple authorities damages were noticed and while returning after the festival missing of item were observed by the Commission.
Part of temple treasure had gone missing: Lawyers' Commission
Before the case in Supreme Court, there was the original petition by the late Sunder Rajan an ex defense personnel and a retired Police official of the Kerala State Police. He was a resident of Thiruvananthapuram, near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. He had filed a case in the session's court of Thiruvananthapuram about the possible mismanagement of the temple and its properties and also about the possible loss of wealth of the temple. Then the case went to High Court and now is in the Supreme Court. During the proceedings of the Supreme Court the report submitted by the commission to the session's court was produced. During the pendency of the case in the lower court, the temple wanted authorities wanted to take out part of the pooja materials from the vaults in the year 2008 for conducting the Arpasi festival. This is one of the 2 major annual festivals. This festival as the name suggests is in the month of Arpasi month of the Tamil calendar which falls within the period October 15th to November 15th. . Since it was a matter under court jurisdiction, permission was required from the court for opening and taking the items. The court agreed to allow use of some of the items for poojas under the supervision of a commission of advocates. Accordingly the commission opened the vaults on the 19th of October, 2008. The commission took note of the items allowed and while doing so noticed certain damages, loss or missing of some of the items from the pooja implements (items used for worship). Lost or Damaged items
As per the report of the commission there are several items found in damaged condition. Some parts of some items are missing. According to the commission some portions of the items like thanka/swarna kuda (umbrellas of gold) and kumbheeyam (silver bell) etc are missing or damaged. The report finds that about 14 marathaka ( Emerald - green precious stones) gems are broken from the gold umbrellas. Similarly the swarna charadukal (threads of gold) and the gold buckles numbering about 44 are missing and in their places similar items made of copper of iron are substituted. The 'mula (sprout) palika (special type of bowl)' (gold bowls used for sprouting grains) are damaged. From the kumbheeyam (silver bell) used for the special pooja silver balls are missing. These pooja items are being used since more than a century. These items numbering about 130 are being used every year for the Arpasi ulsavam (a special service pooja). The commission members are advocates Sri B R Syam and Sri V Suresh Kumar.
Commission Report as evidence in Supreme Court
This matter came to the Supreme Court on the issue of a request to withdraw the commission. The request is from the Temple administration executive. The Executive e feels that in view of the valuation wealth of the temple being done under the guidance of the Supreme Court, there is no necessity for the commission to continue. Incidentally the commission had in the report t stated that the temple authorities had acted in an irresponsible manner in the administration of the temple matters and adequate security arrangements are lacking to protect the properties. It further pointed out that when they wanted to prepare a list of article with proper accounts of the items in terms of the quantities and the value of the temple's precious properties. According to them the Royal family opposed this step under the pretext that the court has not categorically suggested for it and they did not continue. The person in charge of the materials was not aware of the missing items and damages of the items. Observation
Seen from the above perspective, there is lot of doubts about the administration of the temple under the control of the royal family. They were consistent in their opposition to the opening of the vaults and making detailed records of the property of the temple. Outwardly the main Royal man proclaims that it is the property of the deity of the temple and no one has any right over it. It appears that the declaration of the property being of the deity is for public consumption to retain the reputation built up by his illustrious predecessors, the great Marthanda Varma and the Swathi Thirunal maharajas. But in practice the present head of the family is opposed to keeping records or valuations etc. Is it having any relationship the missing of the items? Is there any truth in the statements of the opposition leader V S Achuthanandan? He also got a Devaprasnam done in a hurry and arbitrarily. Now he is representing to the Supreme Court that the vaults should not be opened. In this context it is to be appreciated that the late Sunder Rajan took the initiative to get the administration straightened out which according to him is not properly conducted.
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