Opening vaults could invite deity's wrath: SC told

NEW DELHI: Opening treasure vaults of famed Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh crore, could result in inviting the wrath of the deity, said a sworn affidavit filed by Rama Varma, a scion of the erstwhile Travancore Royal family, in the Supreme Court.

Advising the apex court against passing any direction, the affidavit claimed vault B (kallara) had an insignia of a "serpent" indicating that it would not be advisable to open the treasure trove.

Alternatively, it said an appeasement ceremony be held before opening the vault to mollify the deity.

"That opening of the last cellar namely 'B' is not advisable at all because the sign of the 'serpent' visible at the entrance indicates that it is not auspicious to open it. However, a decision on this may be taken after conducting the traditional "deva prashnam'so as not to incur the displeasure of Lord Padmanabha by opening it.

"That is necessary because it is the belief of the devotees that opening of this 'kallara' can invite the wrath of the Lord. Opening without conducting 'deva prasnam' will be contrary to the age old religious custom and practise," senior counsel K K Venugopal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted before a bench of justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik