In a historic spiritual event, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala is set to conduct the rare Maha Kumbhabhishekam ritual on 8th June, marking the first time in over 270 years that this significant ritual ceremony will take place at the centuries-old shrine.
The ritual follows the completion of extensive restoration and renovation work, carried out under the guidance of a Supreme Court-appointed expert panel, and is aimed at re-energising the spiritual sanctity of the temple complex. The restoration process, which began in phases in 2021, faced early delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has since reached completion.
Temple manager B.Sreekumar confirmed that the Maha Kumbhabhishekam will be conducted in accordance with strict traditional protocols and is unlikely to be held again for several decades.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for devotees of Lord Padmanabha worldwide”, he said, calling the occasion a rare opportunity to be witnessed.
The temple, which enshrines Lord Vishnu as a reclining posture on the serpent deity Anantha, is not only a spiritual landmark but also lends its name to Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, meaning ‘The City of Lord Anantha’.
Rituals and Key Highlights
The Maha Kumbhabhishekam ceremony, scheduled between 7:40 am and 8:40 am on 8th June, will include a series of complex and sacred rituals such as:
- The installation of new thazhikakudams (golden finials atop the temple sanctums)
- Reinstallation of the Viswaksena idol, which was found damaged during a devaprasnam (astrological consultation) in 2011.
- Ashtabandha Kalasam at the Thiruvambady Sree Krishna shrine
- Prasada Shuddhi, Dhara, and Kalasam rituals leading up to the main event
The new Viswaksena idol was crafted by Thirukoshtiyur Madhavan, a skilled sculptor from Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, and replaces a 300-year-old figure that had suffered structural wear. The week-long rituals began on 2nd June and are being led by the temple’s chief thantri Govindan Namboodiripad, alongside senior thantris Tharanaellor Pradeep Namboodiripad, Tharananelloor N.R. Satheeshan Namboodiripad, and Saji Namboodiripad
As rituals covered in centuries-old tradition take place, the event is expected to draw global attention from devotees and heritage enthusiasts alike, reinforcing Sree Padmansabhaswamy Temple’s enduring significance in India’s religious and architectural legacy.
Sources: Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.
