Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Padmanabhaswamy temple is positioned in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. This temple is one of the wealthiest temples in the country. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple has references in Epics and Puranas. There is a strict dress code in this temple. Women must wear sarees and men, Dhotis. Rental Dhotis are available at the temple entrance.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala

Architecture
History
Puja Timings
Festivals
Special Rituals
How to Reach
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The temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style, a famous architectural style of South India. The temple features high walls and an old Gopuram. The temple is a replica of the Kanyakumari Adikesava Perumal temple in architecture.

The history of the temple dates back to the 8^th century. In the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Aalvar saints, the temple is one of the 108 principal Divya Desams in Vaishnavism, and is glorified in the Divya Prabandha. The legend says that Sage Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar, who resided near Ananthapuram temple prayed to Lord Vishnu for his Darshan. The Lord is believed to have come in a guise of a little boy. The boy defiled the Idol of Lord Vishnu. Enraged Sage, chased the boy and he suddenly disappeared. Then the sage heard an anonymous voice. The voice directed him to a tree where the little boy was standing. To his astonishment, the Iluppa tree turned into Anantha Sayana Moorthi. The happy sage, raised a temple for the divine power and the temple is revered till today.

The temple is open from 3.30 AM to 7.20 PM for Poojas.

Navarathri, Thiruvonam, Ashtami Rohini, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Aipasi Utsavam, Valiya Ganapthi Homa, Maha Shivarathri, pankuni Utsavam, Kalabham, Sri Rama Navami, Vishu, Murajapam, Lakshadeepam, Niraputhari are the festivals celebrated in this temple.

The major poojas performed in the temple are Nirmaliyam, Ucha pooja, Attazhapooja, Deeparadhana, Vedamantra Archana and so on.

Info on the deity – Specific to the temple deity

The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu in the divine Anantha Sayanam posture. In this posture, Lord Vishnu is seen in the eternal yogic sleep on the serpent Adisheshan. This deity is made up of amalgam that contains within it 12008 Salagramas collected from the bed of the River Gandaki in Nepal. It is believed that Salagramas represent Lord Vishnu. Other deities in the temple include Lord Vishwakesan, Lord Sri Rama with his consort Seetha Devi, Lord Yoga Narasimha Moorthi, Lord Agrashaala Ganapathi and Lord Hanuman.

By Road

This is one of the most famous temples of Kerala. The temple is well connected by Roads. Buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis are available all the time to reach the temple.

By Rail

The nearest rail head is the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station at a distance of 1 km from the temple.

By Air

The nearest airport is the Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum International Airport at a distance of 6 kms from the temple.