SC on Padmanabha Swamy Temple sixth chamber

Supreme Court today restrained the seven member committee from opening the sixth vault or Kallara B of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Issuing the verdict on petition filed by filed by Raja Marthanda Varma, erstwhile Prince of Travancore and Kerala Government, the bench of justices RV Raveendran and AK Patnaik requested them to come out with appropriate suggestions ensuring sanctity and security of ancient temple.

There are six vaults (hidden chambers), from A to F and only Vault B is still to be opened. This vault has special locks and no body want to break them. So temple authorities are getting experts to examine them as key for this vault is missing. While temple authorities are taking the help of traditional locksmiths to get duplicate keys, the royal family members of Travancore, being traditional custodians of temple are apprehensive over the use of machinery to break open the vault as hammering this ancient vault could shake the temple’s foundation or a model of a snake (Naga Bandham) on this door prompts about bad omen. Other sources say that says that there is a tunnel at the bottom of the chamber that leads to the sea.

Supreme Court said that sixth vault (Kallara B) will not be opened till treasure recovered from Kallara A (first five vaults) is videographed, photographed and its inventory is prepared. Next hearing of the case on Vault B is adjourned till July 14 that is coming Thursday.