May the Treasures Rest In Peace

Opinion/Sree Kumar Bhattathiri

“To be, or not to be, that is the question’’, says Hamlet in a moment of tormenting mental conflict. Here, in Kerala, a similar situation has arisen with regard to the famous treasures of Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple. Will Vault B of the temple, where so many invaluable treasures are supposed to be there, be opened and the items therein evaluated by the expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court? Or, will the court be convinced by the findings of the devaprasnam conducted there — which warns of serious consequences if the vault is opened and the items appraised — and turn away from any such stock-taking (risk-taking)?

So many doubts and apprehensions criss-cross an averagely intelligent and informed man’s mind if he dissects the data supplied by the media., especially if he is a staunch believer. The Maharaja, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, has repeatedly said that he is quite aware of the magnitude and value of the valuables treasured in the vaults.

And, as a firm believer as Padmanabhadasa, he believes that everything in the temple belongs to the Lord. In that case, should he not have taken the necessary steps to conduct the devaprasna before the opening of the five vaults? What prevented him from doing so is anybody’s guess.

Now comes the most important question, whom to follow — the warnings and directions of the astrologers or the directions of the Supreme Court? The divine will, as revealed in the devaprasna, or the court’s verdict? It is understood from the media that most of the Keralites, among whom the majority are believers, are for avoiding any confrontationist path. They don’t want any appraisal. They don’t want any inventory. They know that the Lord is beyond any evaluation. Likewise, his treasures also.

Further, they are not at all concerned about spending his treasures for the welfare of citizens. The devaprasnam has underlined that it is the treasures deposited underneath the temple that impart, to a great extent, the chaithanya there. So all had better leave them as they are at the places where they are now.

The Maharaja has already made clear his stand — he doesn’t want a single paisa from Lord Padmanabha’s wealth. He meticulously dusts even his feet daily when he steps out of the temple after darsan because even a grain of Lord Padmanabha should not be carried outside the temple.
A great lesson for our avaricious politicians!
All these days, nay months, nay years, nay decades, nay centuries, all the treasures have remained beside the Lord and the Lord has been reclining above them in admirable serenity. Why disturb that peace and calm?

(The writer is a senior journalist)

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