The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed videography of the ongoing unearthing of treasure trove inside chambers of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala.
A bench of justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik also proposed the appointment of a curator of a museum to preserve the treasure being unearthed from the centuries-old temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
The apex court’s directions came during the hearing of a petition by the heir of erstwhile king of Travancore Raja Rama Varma, challenging a Kerala High Court ruling of 31st January this year, ordering takeover of the assets and management of the shrine by the state.
The court also barred the observer, supervising the unearthing of the temple’s treasure, from giving any interview of the process, saying the matter is related to the state.After brief proceedings, the court posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.Earlier on 2nd May, on a petition filed by Rama Varma’s elder brother Marthanda Varma, the apex court, by an interim order, had stayed the high court’s order for takeover of the management and assets of the temple.
While hearing of the petition, the court had directed that “there shall be a detailed inventory of the articles, valuables and ornaments found from the temple’s treasure trove.”
The court had also appointed retired judges of Kerala High Court Justice M N Krishnan and Justice C S Rajan as observers to supervise unearthing of the temple’s treasure and had said that the inventory list would be prepared in their presence.
The two petitioners in the matter, including Marthanda Varma, were also authorised by the apex court to be present during the preparation of the inventory list.
The court had also said that the inventory shall be made in the presence of the Devaswom Department’s secretary or a representative nominated by it.
The court had also directed the presence of a senior officer of the Department of Archaeology during preparation of the inventory list.
The court had also made Justice Krishnan as the in-charge for organising the inventory and fixing of the schedule for it’s unearthing.
Temple Treasures
Times of India [ July 05,2011 ] reports following re: wealth of various temples of India:
Padmanabha Swamy …………….. Rs. 100,000 crores ( $ 25 billion )
Tirupati ………………………………….Rs. 42,000 crores ( $ 10 billion )
Puri Emar Math ………………… …Rs. 90 crores
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple …………Rs. 32 crores
Siddhi Vinayak Temple ………..Rs. 125 crores
Vaishnodevi Shrine ……………..Rs. 500 crore/yr ( income )
Guruvayoor Temple …………….Rs. 125 crores
Satya Sai Trust …………………….Rs. 40,000 crores ( $ 10 billion )
Then, Times of India lists a no of “ Social Benefits “ which can be effected with this “ Wealth “.
No doubt, putting this wealth to productive uses can,
build a lot of badly needed infrastructure
give jobs to millions of unemployed
lift millions above the “ Poverty Line “ ( Rs 20 / day )
save the lives of 3 million children dieing of starvation annually
In fact, some temple trusts ( Satya Sai Baba / Tirupati Devsthanam etc ), have been, regularly putting their income to such socially beneficial uses.
We must encourage all temple trusts to deploy their wealth for the educational and medical help of the poor.
We must not be tempted to set up some Central Body to take over and ( mis ) manage the temple treasures !
As far as “ Ancient / Antique / Heritage “ items are concerned ( Statues / Coins / Artifacts etc ), let these be displayed in museums, next to each temple.
With regards
hemen parekh
Jobs for All = Peace on Earth