Daijiworld Media Network - Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 19: After opening the private chamber of Sathya Sai Baba at Putteparthy, where millions of rupees of cash and about 100 kg of gold were found, the focus has now shifted to Sri Anantha Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple at Kerala with the Supreme Court issuing an order to open two 'secret' chambers to find out what fortunes are stored there.

It is rumoured that the precious stones, gold and diamond jewellery stored in the chambers belong to the erstwhile rulers of Travancore princely state.

The Supreme Court has also ordered that two High Court appointed observers must be present during the opening 'ceremony'.

Temple executive officer Hari Kumar has informed that the chamber doors will be opened later this month, in the presence of two High Court observers, additional chief secretary K Jayakumar as state representative, an officer not below the rank of deputy director from the Central Archeology Department, the petitioners in the matter, and a nominee of the Travancore palace.

According to history, erstwhile ruler of Travancore, Marthanda Varma had dedicated the state and all his wealth at the feet of the deity and ruled as 'Padmanabha Dasa' (servant of Padmanabha), who consequently gained the status of nominal head or 'perumal'.
According to legend, the Travancore kings had transferred loads of wealth, meant for use during famines or scarcity, to these secret chambers to protect them from the British.

"These are all stories. We don't know what's the truth till its opened," says Kumar. The state capital was named Thiruanantha-puram which literally means "abode of lord Anantha'' after the deity Vishnu reclining on the serpent Anantha in eternal sleep (ananthashayanam).