Lord Vishnu
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Lord Vishnu’s royal servants guard his riches
Ananthakrishnan G | TNN
The Times of India, 5 July 2011
Thiruvananthapuram: As Sree Padmanbha Swamy temple’s glittering gems are valued and tagged, it’s not just the diamonds that shine but also the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.It’s an ode to the family’s unflinching devotion and integrity that not a penny has gone missing from the billions stored in the cellars of the centuries-old shrine administered by the royals.
Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, current head of the royal family, refuses to comment on the stock-taking exercise till the last paisa is counted. “Till then, only my eyes would speak,” he insists.
What makes the family’s story vis-a-vis the temple all the more compelling is that the rulers always knew of the riches, yet never touched them. “The riches are mentioned in the book “Pradhanapetta Mathilakom Records” (Important Mathilakom Records) compiled by acclaimed Malayalam poet Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer and published in 1941. They also figure in the “Kottaram” (Palace) manual which runs into 12 volumes,” says noted historian M G Sasibhushan. “These records refer to the sacred cellars from which treasure is being dug out.”
Observers talk of the symbolic significance of the practice of royal family members dusting sand off their feet when they emerge from the shrine. “It was meant to convey that the family members would not take home or misappropriate even a speck of sand belonging to Padmanabha,” they say. In fact, the present head, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, religiously follows the rule of paying of Rs 151 and 55 paise to the temple if he fails to make it to the shrine on any day.
Unlike other royals, the Travancore family has stayed away from opulence with descendants more inclined towards art and culture.
“There was also a rule that the affairs of the palace should be run from the proceeds of its spice business and not with money from the state treasury,” says Sasibhushan. This is followed even now. The present ruler’s nephew Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, next in line to head the family, runs the Aspinwall Company, which to this day supplies pepper to Buckingham Palace and many more European royals,” Sasibhushan says.
Though the kingdom of Travancore lapsed in 1949 following the Instrument of Accession with the Union of India, the management of the temple remained with the royal family by virtue of a covenant.
Travancore extended from Kanyakumari (now in Tamil Nadu) in the south to Aluva (Ernakulam district) in the north. Padmanabhapuram (now in TN) was its first capital, but this was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram by Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma, better known as Dharma Raja, so called because he refused to let go of refugees who had fled Malabar following Tipu Sultan’s onslaught. He succeeded Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, first ruler of Travancore, and is credited with formation of the state.
The family, which ruled over erstwhile Travancore, has had a long lineage of visionary rulers. In fact, it was a bold move by the first Marthanda Varma in 1750 that inextricably bonded the temple and the palace. The king donated the wealth of the kingdom to the deity Padmanabha (Lord Vishnu) and ruled the state as “Padmanabha Dasa” (servant of Padmanabha).
Some important names in the family are Swathi Thirunal (1813-1846), legendary Carnatic musician, who promoted English education and the last king Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma (1912-1991), who abolished the death sentence making Travancore the first territory in India to do so. The last king issued the landmark Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936 doing away with the ban on “untouchables” entering temples. C P Ramaswami Iyer, then Diwan influenced the king’s decisions.
The Leela/ deeds of the Lord
Samudra Manthan
By Sushil Kumar Sullerey, Sep 9, 2022: The Times of India
Vishnu is also known as Anant and Anant Chaturdashi is related to Samudra Manthan, churning of the milky ocean.
Samudra Manthan is a popular mythological story that is mentioned in the Mahabharat, Srimad Bhagavatam and the Vishnu Purana. Also known as Ksheersagar Manthan and Amrit Manthan, the Sagar Manthan offers profound lessons that are of relevance even today.
The key role in Samudra Manthan is played by Vishnu. The story goes that when Indra, the king of Devas, lost all his powers due to a curse by Durvasa Rishi, his kingdom was captured by the Asura king, Bali. He then approached Vishnu for help. On Vishnu’s advice, the Devas agreed to churn the ocean with the help of Asuras, to draw out the elixir of immortality. Collectively we can achieve significant goals.
The Manthan started with Mandrachal Parvat being used as the churning rod and Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope held by the Devas and Asuras on either side of the mountain. To prevent the mountain from sinking, Vishnu took Kurma avatar, tortoise form, and provided it the required base.
In the beginning of the churning emerged Halahal, the poison that was powerful enough to destroy the universe. To protect the cosmos, Shiv swallowed it and stored it in his throat, signifying courage, compassion and detachment – all essential to withstand obstacles that emerge at the start of any project.
When the churning was resumed, from the ocean emerged many ratnas, precious gems; divine animals, such as Kamdhenu, Airavat; goddess of wealth, Lakshmi; and at the end emerged Dhanwantri, with a kumbh, pot, of amrit – elixir of immortality. All the ratnas were divided between Devas and Asuras, and Lakshmi became the wife of Vishnu.
The Devas and Asuras now started quarrelling over the amrit. Seeing this, Garud who was with the Asuras, snatched the kumbh and flew away. In the process, he spilt some amrit in four places – at Prayagaraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik – where Kumbh Mela is held to date.
Now, Vishnu took the form of Mohini, a beautiful woman, and enticed the Asuras into giving her the kalash to distribute the elixir among all. She then began giving it first to the Devas. Here Mohini stands for illusion. Even though they were so close to their goal of acquiring the elixir, the Asuras succumbed to false bravado and were deluded. Subsequently, they never got to partake any of it.
The story of Samudra Manthan tells us that collective effort can yield rich rewards for everyone, and that the ego of power and wealth often becomes the reason for one’s downfall.
The example of Kurma avatar is detailed in the Bhagwad Gita, which says: “One who is able to withdraw the senses from the outside world, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its shell, is established in divine wisdom.” Manifesting as Kurma avatar, the Divine showed us the way to detach ourselves from worldly attractions, so that we can go within to connect with the divine in us.
Amrit that is finally obtained is symbolic of Self-realisation achieved after one gives up false pride. Dhanwantri stands for health, implying that the body and mind must be in sound state to attain Self-realisation.
