Security plan for treasure temple

8 July 2011 Last updated at 14:10 GMT By Ashraf Padanna Trivandrum Temple security has been tightened in recent days Officials in the Indian state of Kerala are drawing up a security plan for a temple where vast amounts of treasure are reported to have been found.

The Supreme Court wants to know how the riches will be kept safe before a sixth vault is opened, possibly next week.

Media reports say the treasure at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in heart of the Keralan capital, Trivandrum, could be worth billions of dollars.

Historians say it is almost impossible to assess the treasure's true value.

The Supreme Court directed the state of Kerala and the former royal rulers of the region to explain how they plan to safeguard the gold, silver and precious stones found so far.

Five temple vaults have been inventoried but the sixth and last chamber - which has an iron wall and was last opened 136 years ago - is said to contain much more.

"The temple and its treasures are important for us and it's our duty to provide adequate security for them," Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani said.

Metal detectors Police are trying to keep out of the way of devotees

Some 45 plainclothes personnel are stationed inside the temple, where non-Hindus are not allowed. Sixty-five policemen are on guard outside and mobile patrols are operating around the clock.

"We have asked the policemen to do patrolling without harming the traditions of the temple and making difficulties for the devotees," said Venugopal K Nair, additional director general of police, who is in charge of the temple's security.

Metal detectors and security cameras have been installed at the complex, which until last week relied on security guards.

The riches are thought to have been languishing in the temple vaults for more than a century, interred by the Maharajahs of Travancore over time.

India's Supreme Court ordered the inspection of the vaults after a local lawyer went to court questioning temple security. He wants the treasure taken over by the state government, a suggestion opposed by the current Maharaja of Travancore.

The former royal family, trustees of the temple, believe the treasure belongs to the deity, Padmanabhaswamy, who is considered by devotees to be an aspect of the God Vishnu in eternal sleep.

"The royal family is not claiming any ownership. It is a public temple," said KK Venugopal, the family's lawyer, the Associated Press reports.

The objects inside the vaults have so far not been shown to the public, but they have been photographed and filmed for security reasons.

Hindu activists say the treasure belongs to the temple, while others want the riches used for the public good.

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Treasure trove unearthed in Indian temple

1 July 2011 Last updated at 17:03 GMT By Ashraf Padanna Kochi The temple was built in the 16th Century by the kings of Travancore Treasure, thought to be worth billions of rupees, has been unearthed from secret underground chambers in a temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Precious stones, gold and silver are among valuables found at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.

The riches are thought to have been languishing in the temple vaults for more than a century, interred by the Maharajahs of Travancore over time.

They have not been officially valued and inspectors are taking an inventory.

Inspectors say they will continue cataloguing the treasure for at least one more week.

Unofficial estimates say that the treasure discovered so far over four days of inspections may be valued at more than 25 billion rupees ($500m). But historians say that assessing the true value of these objects is likely to be extremely difficult.

Security has been stepped up at the temple: "I have instructed the police chief to reinforce security further following the findings and it would be there permanently," Oomen Chandy, the state's chief minister, said.

Concealed riches

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple was built in the 16th Century by the kings who ruled over the then kingdom of Travancore. Local legends say the Travancore kings sealed immense riches within the thick stone walls and vaults of the temple.

The current Maharajah of Travancore has been the managing trustee of the temple

Since Independence, the temple has been controlled by a trust run by the descendants of the Travancore royal family. After 1947 the kingdom of Travancore merged with the princely state of Cochin, which eventually became the present-day state of Kerala.

The inspections at the temple began after India's Supreme Court appointed a seven-member panel to enter and assess the value of the objects stored in its cellars, including two chambers last thought to have been opened about 130 years ago.

The Supreme Court also endorsed a ruling by the high court in Kerala, which ordered the state government to take over the temple and its assets from the royal trust. It also ordered the trust to hand over responsibility for the temple's security to the police.

The initial court petition was brought by a local lawyer, Sundar Rajan, who filed a case in the Kerala High Court demanding the takeover of the temple, saying that the current controllers were incapable of protecting the wealth of the temple because it did not have its own security force.

Anand Padmanaban, counsel for Sundar Rajan, was present when observers appointed by the Supreme Court opened the treasure chambers.

"Treasures included very old gold chains, diamonds and precious stones which cannot be valued in terms of money," he told the BBC Tamil service.

"Many of those things were pretty old, going back to the 18th Century. They could not count it, so they are weighing it."

Only two of four chambers had been opened so far, he said.

Royal wealth?

The current Maharajah of Travancore, Uthradan Thirunaal Marthanda Varma, who is also the managing trustee of the temple, appealed to the Supreme Court against Sundar Rajan's petition.

He said that as Maharajah he had every right to control the temple because of a special law enacted after Independence, which vested the management of the temple with the erstwhile ruler of Travancore.

But his appeal was rejected - Maharajahs have no special status in India and they are treated like ordinary citizens.

The members of the Travancore royal family consider themselves to be servants of the presiding deity at the temple, Padmanabhaswamy, which is an aspect of the Hindu God Vishnu in eternal sleep. This is why they historically entrusted their wealth to the temple.

But there was a public outcry when the Maharajah attempted to retain control of the temple by citing the special law, with many arguing that the wealth belonged to the people now.

The vaults were opened in the presence of the panel, and observers, which include high court judges, temple officials, archaeology authorities, Sundar Rajan and a representative of the current Maharajah.

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