LORD SRI ADI KESAVA PERUMAL at Thiruvattar Sri Adikeshava Perumaal temple is an ancient and a very important temple situated in Thiruvattar. Lord Sri Adi Keshava Perumal is huge 22 feet in a Bhujanga Sayanam (sleeping in the opposite direction – Head in the South, Feet in the North). For a full darshan, the Deity must be viewed through three doors. One of the unique occurrence at this temple is that between the 3rd and 9th day of Puratasi and Panguni, during dusk, sun’s rays directly falls on the Lord inside the sanctum, almost as a mark of respect from the Sun God to Sri Adi Kesava Perumal. Other interesting facts are: Parasurama is said to have undertaken penance at this place and performed daily poojas for Sri Adi Keshava Perumal; Sage Vashista is said to have stayed here for several years. Another remarkable feature is the Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) outside the main sanctum of the temple altar is measuring 18ft width and 3ft height that has been built on a single stone in the 12th Century AD. This is three feet thick and 17½ by 15 feet long. It certainly shows the skill of which the stone carvers had during the day when this temple was built.

Sri Adi Keshava Perumal at Thiruvattar is located near the Kerala – Tamil Nadu border about 6 km north-east of Marthandam town, 30 km north-west of Nagercoil (in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu), 54 km from Trivandrum and 46 km from Kanyakumari. Temple is one of the 13 Malai Naatu divya desams. Though this, Divya Desam is located in Tamil Nadu, there are no big temple towers that are typical of Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu. The temple has been built in typical Kerala style on a three acre land. All poojas are in Kerala style – Thaanthriga Vithi and the priest is from Kerala as well.

The temple is surrounded on three sides by rivers Kothai, Parali and Tamraparni. River Paraliyar takes a turn in this place and diverges to flow forming an island and it is called vattaru and when the temple of Adikeshav Perumaal was created it came to be known as Thriuvattaru. One has to climb 18 steps to reach Sri Adi Kesava sannidhi (altar). This Temple is older than Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple at Trivandrum (50 km from here). The temple is situated in a compound of 1½ acres. It is surrounded by a massive 30-foot tall wall. The inner sanctum of the temple was constructed over 4,000 years ago. In the temple there is a spot, the very place that Lord Caitanya sat and read the Brahma-samhita. On western side of the temple is the ghat where Tamraparni river flows. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the dip at this river before taking the darshan of Sri Adikeshava Perumal. The structure of the temple is similar to that of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple at Trivandrum. The style and the architecture of this temple is taken as the sample to construct the Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple. There are close to 50 inscriptions inside the temple in the outer prakarams in both Tamil and Sanskrit. In addition to the inscriptions, one also finds a number of stunning sculptures on the pillars. No two images are the same. Walking along the outer hallway, we reach the place of the copper flagstaff, the dwajasthamba. This was installed by Maharaja Mulam Tirumal of Travancore in 1895. Next we come to the Nalambalam, the circumambulatory passage around the sanctum (Sri Balippuram), which is a hall with 224 ornately carved granite pillars. The pillars nearby in the Balipeeta Mantap have life-size images that include Visnu, Laxmana, Indrajit, Venugopal, Nataraja, Parvati and others. There is also a shrine to Tiruvambadi Krishna. Additional shrines to Adi Kesava, Venkatachalapati and Taayar are also found.

This temple has been glorified by a decad off 11 verses composed by Nammalwar in the first millennium CE. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is celebrated with pomp and glory. Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam are delicious prasadams at this temple. It is an important centre of worship and is also referred to as Adi Anantam and Dakshina Vaikuntham.

The Deity of Sri Adi Keshava Perumal is 22 feet huge, made out of 16008 Saligrams, facing west, Bhujanga Sayanam (sleeping in the opposite direction – Head in the South, feet in the North). The Lord is lying on his snake couch and has to be viewed through three doors. Lord Siva is near the Lord Adikeshava Perumal inside the sannidhi (altar). Sri Adi Keshava Perumal faces west as it is said that He is looking toward Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple in Trivandrum. This Deity of Adikeshava is considered the elder brother of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple in 1510 AD during His South India tour. This is the temple where Lord discovered the 5th chapter of Sri Brahmasamhita. Brahma-samhita is said to contain 100 chapters. This scripture is so old and so sacred it was practically lost to the general population. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood the supreme importance of this scripture and He found it in the Sri Adi Keshava temple at Thiruvattar. As soon as Lord began to hear and read the content of Sri Brahma-samhita, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Lord transcribed Brahma-samhita to take it with Him and to share it with His devotees and ultimately with the whole world.

The Pastime of Adikeshav Deities Manifestation
Lord Brahma performed a yajna without Saraswati Devi and as a result of Saraswati’s anger, two asuras (a brother and a sister) by name Kesan and Kesi emerged out of the Yajna agni (sacrificial fire). They were troubling the three worlds. The demigods approached Lord Vishnu and requested Him to find a solution. Lord Vishnu in the form of Adi Kesava fought with Kesan. Lord threw Kesan who fell on top of Mahendragiri and Lord blew His conch. Instantaneously, Adi Sesha wound himself around Kesan thus disabling the asura to move and Lord immediately laid on Adi Sesha thus putting His weight on the asura. When the asura tried to get out of Adi Sesha’s coils, Lord made 12 Siva-lingams to stand as guard all around the asura and Him. These famous Siva Temples are Thirumala, Thikkurussi, Thrupparappu, Thirunandhikkara, Ponmana, Pannippakam, Kalkkulam, Melankodu, Thiruvidaikkodu, Thiruvithamkode, Thiruppanrikkode and Thirunattalam. These are situated at quite a distance from Adi Keshava temple. Even today, the worship to Lord Siva on the occasion of Siva-ratri, the famous Sivalaya ottam – is said to be completed only when Siva devotee after visiting the twelve Siva shrines ends their trip in the Sri Adi Keshava Perumal Temple.

Meanwhile, Kesi who saw her brother defeated wanted to take revenge. Hence she along with her friend, Kothai took the form of rivers and encircled the temple with the intention of submerging the temple. At that time, it is believed that Bhumi devi raised the temple at a height. Hence, the temple is situated at a height of 55 feet from the ground level. The image of the Gopuram clearly indicates this. The rivers joined with Arabian Sea at a place known as Moovaatru mukham. These rivers were then cursed by Lord to remain as sinful rivers and they later repented for their action. The merciful Lord forgave them and purified them by taking a dip in them. Even today, during Painguni utsavam, Lord’s utsava-vigraha comes on a golden Garuda and has a dip in the river thus enacting the incident.

Thiru Allah Puja:
In 1740 AD, the men of the Nawab of Arcot looted this temple and the golden utsava-murti. Out of contempt, Nawab kept the Deity along with rubbish items in a godown. However every day, the Deity would automatically come on top pushing aside all the weights that were put on it. The perplexed Nawab had it chained down, boring two holes in the pedestal. At that time, the Nawab’s wife was afflicted with a serious illness. She was unable to withstand the excruciating pain. The physicians could do nothing about it. Then the Deity appeared in the dream of the temple priest (Azhathi) and ordered him to go to Nawab’s palace and inform the Nawab that if the Deity was returned, his wife would be cured of illness. Explaining the greatness of the Lord, the Azhathi convinced the Nawab that the illness would be cured once the Deity was restored to its original place in the temple. The Nawab complied and acted accordingly. Nawab’s wife was cured. He was surprised that the illness of his wife had disappeared. The Nawab repented for his blasphemous deeds and as a token of gratitude, he offered a pillow, crown, a golden plate and cup to the Lord. A special pooja or worship was performed wherein a cap that is used to crown the Deity is fashioned like the Muslim head dress. This was instituted by the Nawab and is still performed during the two annual Utsavams and the paraphernalia offered by Nawab is used at the time of Sheeveli puja every day. He also provided the fund for conducting annual puja, which is called Thiru Allah Pooja. The Thiru Allah mandapam within the temple is linked with this episode and is the place where 21-day Thiru Allah puja takes place even today.

THEIR LORDSHIPS SRI SRI GAURA-NITAI, ISKCON Trivandrum

How to reach Trivandrum:
Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala state in India. Trivandrum is well connected by air, train and road to rest of India. There are several express trains and buses from across the country to Trivandrum.

Nearest Railway Station: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is 1 km from Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram is an important terminal on Indian Railways network, with connections from and to all parts of the country. Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport is 7 km from Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

History of Parasurama Kshetra:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMK0u5R4es

Glories of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy and King Kulasekhara:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQWlsWazIrI [Glories to Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy starts from 12th min]

Glories of King Kulasekhara (continued):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK73jJt2ymg

Mukunda Mala Stotra book: http://vedabase.net/mm or www.vedabase.com/mm

King Kulasekhara was born into the Sera dynasty of the royal family of Travancore, the southern half of the modern state of Kerala, in southwest India. The rulers of the land did not claim to own the kingdom but considered themselves vassals and ministers to Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy, whom they regarded as the actual owner of the land. The kings of Travancore would come before the Lord at least twice a day to offer obeisances and report on the administration of the country. Before the birth of Kulasekhara (around 3,000 BC), his parents were childless, a worrisome situation for a monarch. Kulasekhara’s father, Drdhavrata, worshipped Lord Narayana and intensely prayed for a son who could rule the kingdom and lead everyone on the path of Krishna Bhakti. As a result of the king’s prayers, Alvar Kulashekhar was born.

Kulasekhara was sent by the Lord Himself to this world. He was a ksatriya of great prowess and became king not only of the Sera lands but also of the neighbouring lands of the Pandya and Chola dynasties. He had incredible intelligence. He learnt the knowledge of everything it took to rule the kingdom. He became a powerful warrior, expert at fighting with weapons, expert at diplomacy. He was so fair and just in the way he ruled his citizens that the weak people, the poor people were never afraid, they felt protected and empowered by their king and the wealthy people felt completely empowered as long as they were using their wealth and power for a just cause. And anyone who was arrogant and exploitative the king gave them no facilities to exploit the people with lower tendencies.

He actually ruled over all the three major kingdoms of South India – the Chola dynasty whose capital was in Kanchipuram, the Pandhya dynasty whose capital was in Madurai and the Chera dynasty in Travancore. All the three kingdoms wanted him to rule. He had everything. He was the ultimate success story materially but by the grace of God he wasn’t satisfied. As he was growing he was thinking I have everything but I have nothing. From sattva guna when we do good, our heart becomes very receptive to God’s grace. Even though king Kulasekhara have to work so hard and deal with so many worldly responsibilities, because he had such good intentions, such good motives and he was feeling himself, the servant of the people, he was receptive to God’s grace and in that grace, he began to think that this body is going to die. The living force the soul is real life; without the soul the body is just a corpse. The soul is taking shelter in a body for a little bit of time to do something in this world, but the purpose of life is to realize our eternal existence, and he was meditating in this way.

He became so much deeply spiritual that at one point he was thinking that without the association of saints, living in this world is like being in the gallows with a rope choking your neck. He cried out like Vibhisana, he was willing to sacrifice everything and anything to get the shelter of Lord Ramacandra. He said, “I will go to Sri Rangam to take shelter of the Supreme Lord Ranganathar Swamy, I will go to Tirupati to worship Sri Venkatesvara Balaji, I will go to Kanchipuram to worship Sri Varadaraj.” He just wanted to go to see the Lord to surrender himself to the Lord and to be with devotees. He started inviting great saints to his kingdom. Blessed by the mercy of the Lord, Kulasekhara would often go into ecstasy. He recorded his spiritual visions and deep realizations in devotional songs, which became part of the Divya-prabandha. He now saw everything with purified spiritual eyes and developed a strong sense of detachment.

Kulasekhara felt shackled to the throne and could find no happiness in royal wealth and splendour. Now his ministers didn’t knew what to do, because they loved him. Nobody could rule the way he could rule, nobody had the power of the faith of the people like he had. But he wants to leave, and his ministers were thinking if he goes to visit Sri Rangam and starts associating with Vaishnavas there, he will never come back and then what happens to us and the whole kingdom. Somehow we have to keep him here, so let us bring as many devotees as we can here and whenever he starts leaving for Sri Rangam they will come and Kulasekhara will have to serve them and he will never leave. So he was always surrounded by devotees. Every time he said that I am going to Sri Rangam, some devotees would come and say “I have just come to your kingdom”. He would give them prasad and hear Hari katha and do kirtan. In this way the king passed his days absorbed in loving feelings towards the Lord and His devotees. Kulashekhar understood, according to Sri Sampradaya scriptures, that by worshiping a pure saint one day one gets the same result as worshiping the Supreme Lord for 60000 years.

Hearing Ramayana:
Kulasekhara chose to hear daily from the Valmiki Ramayana, the history of Lord Ramacandra. He was so entranced in spiritual consciousness that he lived and breathed the pastimes of Sri Ramacandra and felt them to be ever fresh and present. His hearing was not just theoretical. Some of us we read Ramayana because we have to give a class on Ramayana so we are making notes thinking, I hope I could remember those things. Some people read Ramayana to tell to the children to help them go to sleep. Some people read Ramayana because they will get the pious credit, some people read because they really want to develop devotion.

When King Kulashekhar heard Ramayana, it was like it was happening right now. It is not something that happened millions of years ago, it did happen millions of years ago but if you are absorbed, it is happening at the present moment in your very heart, in some universe somewhere. So whenever there was some beautiful thing that happened in Ramayana, Kulashekhar would celebrate in his kingdom. The king celebrated with great care every important event mentioned during the daily recital of the Ramayana. Kulasekhara would have the Deity of Sri Rama carried through the streets of the city in procession, and then he would serve everyone a feast of prasadam.

On one particular reading he was hearing the pastime when Suparnakha, sister of Ravana, approaches Lord Rama and proposes Him for marriage. Lord Rama explains how He had taken a vow of single wife and directs her to Laxmana. But Laxmana also puts off her request. Suparnakha became outraged and she attacked Sita, thinking that she was the cause of her not being able to marry Ram. Seeing this, Laxmana immediately cut off her nose. She ran to the nearby forest to call her brothers Khara and Dushana, they immediately marched towards Rama and Laxmana with an army of 14000 powerful mystic asuras. Rama told Laxmana to guard Sita in the cave and He stood there to face the army.

As Kulashekhar was listening to this, his love of God went into frenzy. He called out to his ministers and army to prepare for battle and he began to march towards Panchvati. Now the ministers were thinking that the battle took place millions of years ago. But Maharaja Kulashekhar was experiencing the pastime now. He was fully enlightened but sometimes enlightenment does not harmonize with effective material management. The ministers asked a group of soldiers to go ahead and come back and tell the king that they had just been to Panchvati and that Lord Ramacandra single handily defeated the entire army. In spiritual delirium, Kulasekhara believed. He started crying and said “my Lord has conquered everyone.” Let us go back and celebrate.

After this incident the ministers decided that whoever is reading Ramayana should only read happy parts and skip other parts. There was one scholar who was reading the Ramayana as per this editorial policy and one day the he had to attend to some business and he asked his son to read the Ramayana, however he forgot to mention this policy. So he read the part where Maricha was asked to take form of a golden deer to allure Rama and Laxmana. Maricha appeared as the golden deer and Sita requested Rama to catch the deer for her. Rama told Laxmana to protect Sita but Maricha called out in Rama’s voice for help and Sita forced him to go and help Rama. At that time Ravana came in the disguise of a sadhu and abducted Sita. As Ravana was taking Sita, Jatayu tried to protect her but he died while fighting.

Kulashekhar upon hearing this proclaimed his armies to get ready and march to Lanka. The whole army started galloping towards Lanka. They reached Rameswaram and reached the ocean. Kulashekhar marched right into the ocean and was getting submerged while moving further. They were seeing him getting drowned. In that incredible crisis of devotion, Lord Ramachandra appeared right in the ocean coming from direction of Lanka. Rama said “the battle of Lanka is over. I won the war and I am again with Sita.” Sita said, “I am here with Rama and Laxmana is here too. So let us go back to kingdom and celebrate.”

Lord Ramacandra said, “Just as I lift My devotees from ocean of samsara and lift them to My eternal abode I will carry you.” He brought Kulashekhar to the kingdom and then disappeared. Kulashekhar then had a big festival on the occasion of Rama’s victory over Ravana. We cannot imitate such devotion. We can simply cherish it by being the servant of the servant of such devotees.

Ministers plot :
The ministers were worried that the king always wants to go to Sri Rangam and if he goes there he will never come back. To avoid this we started bringing devotees for Hari Katha, but our solution has become a bigger problem. Even in midst of important meeting, the king will leave to serve the visiting sadhus.

The ministers thought that the solution is if he loses faith in devotees he will lose faith in Sri Rangam. The foundation for all problems is the faith in the Vaishnavas. The king worshiped a deity of Lord Rama. So the ministers made a plot to take the deity’s necklace from jewellery box and hide it. When it comes to his attention he will hold investigation and since only Vaishnavas have access to it they will be found guilty. The ministers reported the theft and asked the king to bring Vaishnavas to trial. Kulashekhar listened to his ministers and he said, “O ministers, lovers of God are incapable of stealing. There is no vice in their thoughts or actions. To prove the truth of my conviction and the falsity of your accusations against these innocent devotees, let a basket be brought to me with a venomous cobra in it, and I shall thrust my hand into that vessel. If devotees are pure then that cobra cannot harm me and if they have stolen then let that cobra bite me and kill me.”

The ministers had to do as ordered. So they brought a basket with a venomous cobra in it and the king plunged his hand in the basket and took it out. The hand was spotless. Seeing the display of faith startled the ministers. Ashamed, the ministers hung their heads. They fell at his feet, confessed their trick, brought the necklace, and placed it before him in fear and respect. Maharaja Kulasekhara pardoned them and asked them to become servants of the Vaisnavas.

Final days of King Kulashekhar :
The incident however convinced Kulashekhar that the time has come for him to go to Sri Rangam and do seva there. “No more will I dwell with these vile and scheming ministers,” the king thought. “I am disgusted with them. Indeed, I am weary of the whole world. I would prefer to leap into fire than keep company with brutes turned away from God.”

He gave the throne to his son and travelled to various holy places and he made his base in Sri Rangam where he spent so many years of his life in loving service of Sri Ranganatha and all the devotees. He would sometimes go on pilgrimage to other holy places, such as Tirupati, Ayodhya, and Chitrakuta. In Sri Rangam, Kulasekhara composed the Perumal-tirumoli, a work containing 103 devotional songs.

In his last days Kulasekara went to the shrine of Nammalvar at Tirunagari (Tamil name for the Adi Kesava temple, where Lord Caitanya found the important scripture Brahma-samhita), near present-day Tirunelveli. From Tirunagari, he went to the holy place called Brahma desam – Mannarkoil near Tirunelveli, where he stayed for some time serving the presiding Deity, Rajagopala Swamy. There in association of Vaishnavas, he worshiped the deity of Rajagopala Swamy and returned to the spiritual world at age 67. Mannarkoil is a small village located at a distance of around 5 km from Ambasamudram near Tirunelveli. The temple at Mannarkoil is named as Rajagopala Swamy Kulasekara Perumal temple. From Tirunelveli it takes about 1 hour to reach here. This temple is over 1000 years old and has beautiful architecture. Inside Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple, Trivandrum there is a place called the Kulashekhar Alvar Mandapam where, according to the legends, he composed the Mukund Mala Stotra. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was especially fond of this work and would often sing one verse in particular:

krsna tvadiya-pada-pankaja-panjarantam
adyaiva me visatu manasa-raja-hamsah
prana-prayana-samaye kapha-vata-pittaih
kanthavarodhana-vidhau smaranam kutas te

“O Lord Krishna, let the royal swan of my mind now enter the tangled stems of the lotus of Your feet. How will it be possible for me to remember You at the time of death, when my throat will be choked with mucus, bile, and air?”

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited all these places and the beautiful thing is, by doing so He has opened the treasures of incredible wisdom and history of these places and revealed them to the world. This is why we are so enthusiastic, every year, to come to yatra to feel that devotion, take association of the devotees and in our hearts of hearts cry out the holy names:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Whatever austerities we perform to do something holy, those austerities they come and go and we forget them. But the experience of the darshan, the experience of the blessing, the experience of the seva that we performed there is forever, eternal and enshrined in the hearts of the devotees.

KING KULASHEKARA ALVAR & his MUKUND MALA STOTRA (BBT publication)

Selections from Mukunda-mala-stotra By Kulasekhara Alvar 7

cintayami harim eva santatam
manda-hasa-muditananambujam
nanda-gopa-tanayam parat param
naradadi-muni-vrnda-vanditam

I always think of Lord Hari [Krishna], whose joyful lotus face bears a gentle smile. Although He is the son of the cowherd Nanda, He is also the Supreme Absolute Truth worshiped by great sages like Narada.

8
kara-carana-saroje kantiman-netra-mine
srama-musi bhuja-vici-vyakule ‘gadha-marge
hari-sarasi vigahyapiya tejo-jalaugham
bhava-maru-parikhinnah klesam adya tyajami

The desert of material existence has exhausted me. But today I will cast aside all troubles by diving into the lake of Lord Hari and drinking freely of the abundant waters of His splendour. The lotuses in that lake are His hands and feet, and the fish are His brilliant shining eyes. That lake’s water relieves all fatigue and is agitated by the waves His arms create. Its current flows deep beyond fathoming.

9
sarasija-nayane sa-sankha-cakre
mura-bhidi ma viramasva citta rantum
sukha-taram aparam na jatu jane
hari-carana-smaranamrtena tulyam

O mind, please never stop taking pleasure in thinking of the Mura demon’s destroyer [Krishna], who has lotus eyes and bears the conch and disc weapon. Indeed, I know of nothing else that gives such extreme pleasure as meditating on Lord Hari’s divine feet.

11
bhava-jaladhi-gatanam dvandva-vatahatanam
suta-duhitr-kalatra-trana-bhararditanam
visama-visaya-toye majjatam aplavanam
bhavati saranam eko visnu-poto naranam

The people in this vast ocean of birth and death are being blown about by the winds of material dualities. As they flounder in the perilous waters of sense indulgence, with no boat to help them, they are sorely distressed by the need to protect their sons, daughters, and wives. Only the boat that is Lord Visnu can save them.

12
bhava-jaladhim agadham dustaram nistareyam
katham aham iti ceto ma sma gah kataratvam
sarasija-drsi deve taraki bhaktir eka
naraka-bhidi nisanna tarayisyaty avasyam

Dear mind, do not bewilder yourself by anxiously thinking, How can I cross this fathomless and impassable ocean of material existence? There is one who can save you – Devotion. If you offer her to the lotus-eyed Lord [Krishna], the killer of Narakasura, she will carry you across this ocean without fail.

26
tattvam bruvanani param parastan
madhu ksarantiva mudavahani
pravartaya pranjalir asmi jihve
namani narayana-gocarani

My dear tongue, I stand before you with joined palms and beg you to recite the names of Lord Narayana. These names describing the Supreme Absolute Truth bring great pleasure, as if exuding honey.

King Marthanda Varma dedicated his kingdom to the deity, and pledged that he and his descendants would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa, meaning “servants of the Lord Padmanabha”. He came before the Deity along with family and ministers and put his crown at the lotus feet of Lord Ananta Padmanabha. King then made official legal document saying that the deed for the entire state of Travancore is the property of Sri Ananta Padmanabha as long as the sun and moon last. And my family are simply the trustee servants of Sri Ananta Padmanabha. With this, Sri Padmanabha became the nominal head of the state of Travancore, assuming the title Perumal, the Emperor. And because he put that in the legal document even the British had to honour that Lord Vishnu is the king. It stood on court on many occasions but was indisputable. The British government saluted the Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy with a 21-gun salute, a military tradition of colonial days, which was continued by the Indian Army as a mark of honor and respect to Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy until the abolition of the privy purses by government of India with Mrs. Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister. In the past there were many great kings who were highly spiritually advanced and were leading the kingdom to enlightenment. One such dynasty was the Chera dynasty. The kings would get the title of Padmanabha Das. The royal insignia of the Lord, Valampiri Shankhu or dextral conch-shell, served as the state emblem of Travancore and even continued so for some time after the re-organization of the states. Sri Padmanabha is still regarded as regional deity of Travancore.