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President Pranab @ Padmanabhaswamy temple

Last updated on: July 19, 2014 17:15 IST

Image: President Pranab Mukherjee at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Also seen in the photograph is Congress MP Shashi Tharoor
Photographs: Rashtrapati Bhavan Photos Sheela Bhatt / Rediff.com

The President asked many questions on the treasure found in the temple, however, he wasn’t shown the actual treasure since it’s sealed under a Supreme Court order. Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com, who accompanied the President, reports from Thiruvananthapuram.

President Pranab Mukherjee had a darshan at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. He spent around 45 minutes at the temple premises.

The President was joined by the chief temple priest and also Aditya Verma and his uncle Martand Verma belonging to the former royal family of Travancore.

President Mukherjee was also accompanied by Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit.

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President Pranab @ Padmanabhaswamy temple


Photographs: Rashtrapati Bhavan Photos Sheela Bhatt / Rediff.com

The temple tour was a serene and outstanding experience for all. President Mukherjee, a Bengali brahmin, on reaching the temple changed into the traditional mundu.

He wears a janeu-- the sacred thread -- since childhood.

Inside the temple Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor guided the President with mythological stories. 

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President Pranab @ Padmanabhaswamy temple

Image: V S Sivakumar, Kerala Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Devaswoms presents an idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy, the presiding deity, to President Pranab. Also seen is Temple Executive Officer K N Satheesh
Photographs: Rashtrapati Bhavan Photos Sheela Bhatt / Rediff.com

The spic and span Padamanabhaswamy temple is majestic and divine.

Visitors were not allowed inside the temple during the President’s visit.

President Mukherjee had the darshan of Sree Padmanabhaswamy and later he was shown thesaptaswaram mandap and the seeveli corridor with 365 pillars -- where knocking at one of the pillars creates a sound on all others.

Its ceilings are made of stone with flower carvings.

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President Pranab @ Padmanabhaswamy temple

Image: President Pranab Mukherjee is presented with a copy of the Bhagavat Gita by temple officials
Photographs: Rashtrapati Bhavan Photos Sheela Bhatt / Rediff.com

The President asked many questions on the treasure found in the temple, however, he wasn’t shown the actual treasure since it’s sealed under a Supreme Court order.

The President, who asked twice how much gold was found, was informed that some 3,000 gold coins of 7th century given by Arabs and other traders have been found. The Arabs and other merchants bought spices and gave gold coins in exchange.

Some 1,500 sarapoli malas -- necklaces studded with precious stones -- have also been found, the President was told.

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President Pranab @ Padmanabhaswamy temple

Image: Justice KP Indira, the chairperson of the administrative committee of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, presents President Pranab with a memento
Photographs: Rashtrapati Bhavan Photos Sheela Bhatt / Rediff.com

When President Mukherjee had darshan of Lord Ayyappa, Shashi Tharoor narrated the mythological story which in essence talks about cerebral amalgamation of the Shaivite and the Vaishnavite tradition.

The President was inquisitive and attentive during the temple visit.

He was shown the store wooden almirah made from a single tree trunk to store sugar and jaggery to make payasam to distribute as prasad.