Rs 90000 Crore Gold Treasure found in Kerala Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple as on Sunday

Around 90,000 crore worth treasure (Nidhi) has been found in the secret cellars of the famous Kerala Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). The 7 member paper appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has been preparing the list of valuable found in the cellars of Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple. The temple has 6 Secret Cellars (Nilavara – a place to keep assets safe) from Cellar A to Cellar F. Opening of each of these chambers is revealing a virtual treasure trove with precious diamonds, golden ornaments, emeralds, jewelleries, rare antique silver and brass platters and golden idols. An estimation of above 90,000 crore treasure was valued at the completion of the 6th day of valuing the assets of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Golden idol of Mahavishnu worth Rs. 500 Crore

The main treasure found on the 6th day was a one foot (12 angulams) height golden idol of Lord Mahavishnu and a 30 kg golden ‘anki’. This golden idol of Lord Vishnu is believed to be the replica of the ‘utsava vigraham' used in the temple. The golden idol of Padmanabhaswamy studded with more than 1000 previous stones is valued to around Rs. 500 Crore. Another golden idol of Lord Sree Krishna was also found which weighs around 5 kg.

Golden Coins, Ornaments, and Human figurine

Several golden coins were also unearthed yesterday which are believed to be issued during the reign of Krishnadeva Rayar in the 16th century AD. Numerous golden ornaments which were used to adorn the main deity were also found in the Vault marked A. Ornaments studded with emeralds were also found on Saturday. Numerous golden human figurine weighing 1 kg, golden bangles, golden rope, are other interesting treasure found in the Vishnu Temple.

Golden Coconut Shells

Another interesting finding was two coconut shells made of pure gold. One of this golden coconut shell was students with rare antique stones including emeralds and rubies.

Cellar B To Open on Monday

Cellar B is the remaining one secret vault which is yet to be inventoried. It is said that this cellar haven’t been opened for more than 100 years. The remaining articles in Cellar A will be inventoried on Monday afternoon and Cellar B will be opened only after that.

Investigators turn to final vault at Padmanabhaswamy temple

Investigators plan to pry open the final vault hidden deep under the centuries-old Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple as police guarded round the clock the shrine where billions of dollars worth of treasure has been discovered.

Over the last week a seven-member team of investigators has broken into five of the six secret subterranean vaults piled high with jewels that have lain untouched for hundreds of years.

Onlookers and devotees thronged the shrine in the bustling centre of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, as officials said treasure worth more than USD 20 billion had been found -- more than India's education budget.

Sacks filled with diamonds were piled next to tonnes of gold coins and jewellery, media reported, in the vaults of the 16th century Hindu temple, the royal chapel of the former rulers of Travancore, now part of Kerala.

"The current market value of the articles found so far by the committee members would be roughly Rs 900 billion (USD 20.2 billion)," one temple official who was not authorised to speak to the media told Reuters.

Investigators searched the vaults to draw up an inventory of the riches because of worry about security but they had no idea of the amount of treasure they would find.

Estimates of the haul's worth range across billions of dollars, with investigators unwilling to disclose the official amount and the ambiguity involved in valuing the priceless jewels and gold coins by weight.

Police set up a dedicated control room close to the temple on Monday, as state Chief Minister Oommen Chandy pledged full state security for the hoard and promised it would remain the property of the temple after an inventory was made.

"We are ready to protect the temple wealth. We will chart out measures for the permanent security in consultation with the Travancore Royal family, which administers the temple now, and the chief priest of the temple", Chandy told reporters.

Historians supported the estimates of the treasure's value, noting the lucrative trade routes that passed through the region for many centuries.

"Traders, who used to come from other parts of the country and abroad for buying spices and other commodities, used to make handsome offerings to the deity for not only his blessings but also to please the then rulers", said P.J. Cherian, director of Kerala Council for Historic Research.

As estimates of the treasure's worth rise, a fierce debate is growing regarding what to do with the discovery, in a country where 450 million people live in poverty.

Leaders of the Hindu community want the wealth to be invested in the temple, while many intellectuals, including former Supreme Court judge Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer have suggested it should be used for the public good.

The government has said it would adhere to the Supreme Court's ruling on ownership of the treasure found in the temple, which is still controlled by the royal family unlike other temples in Kerala which are managed by the government.

The vaults were searched after a lawyer petitioned the country's top court to order the government to take over the temple as it did not have adequate security.

Several temples in India have billions of dollars worth of wealth as devotees donate gold and other precious objects as gifts to spiritual or religious institutions that run hospitals, schools and colleges.

The Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh is reported to have 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) of gold, a third of which it deposited with the State Bank of India last year, while spiritual guru Sai Baba, who died in April, left behind an estimated USD 9 billion estate.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who staged a fast against corruption last month that lead to protests against the government, has built a USD 40 million-a-year global empire through yoga and various spiritual products and services. ($1 = 44.630 rupees)

Goa Shipyard

Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) is a medium sized shipyard on the west coast of India, functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India.

From a humble beginning as a small barge repair and construction yard in 1957, this shipyard has progressed and grown to the present status of a shipyard of repute capable of indigenously designing and building sophisticated high technology ships required for the Defence as well as the Commercial sector.

The product range includes Patrol Vessels, Special Purpose Warships, Survey Vessels, Fast Attack Crafts, Sail Training Ships, Offshore Supply Vessels, Ferries, Tugs, etc. Other products & services include Damage Control Simulators, Safety at Sea Training facilities, GRP boats, repair of vessels, etc

GSL is expected to receive orders for series construction of ships for the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The yard has also been earmarked for the construction of Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) for the Indian Navy.

GSL carries out its own Research & Development activities for the design and development of its product range and is one of the few shipyards which have capacity and capability to carry out basic design of ships. All our new shipbuilding projects are in-house designs, which is an outcome of an intensive R & D activity over the years.

The following products of GSL which are based on GSL’s in-house design, are being highlighted at Navdex-2011:

35 Knots, 50 M. Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV): This is a proven product having triple waterjet propulsion system. On successfully designing, building and commissioning of two of these vessels in 2002-03, a repeat order for five more vessels was placed on GSL in 2004 and the same have been successfully delivered. Today these seven vessels are rendering yeoman service to the Indian Coast Guard.

105m. Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV): Two nos. 105M Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels were commissioned in the service of the Indian Coast Guard in May 2008 and January 2009. These two multi-role Patrol Vessels have excelled in their performance parameters and have won appreciation from all quarters and were also well appreciated during their international voyages.

 

90m. Offshore Patrol Vessels: Three nos. 90M Offshore Patrol Vessels are being built for Indian Coast Guard. Two of these vessels are successfully commissioned in the service of the Indian Coast Guard. The third is under advanced stages of construction. The first of the series has already voyaged on international missions and has been the pride of the Indian Coast Guard.

Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV): Four nos. in-house designed, 105 m. NOPVs are being built by GSL for the Indian Navy. Three vessels of this series have already been launched and are in advance stages of completion. The fourth vessel will be launched shortly.

Commonwealth Games 2010 Theme Song

Biggest floral carpet at Kozhikode -Snehapookkalam to get into the Guninnes Book of Records

Kozhikode :Marking a model for religious harmony and universal brotherhood, the biggest floral carpet `Snehapookkalam' was laid with 15 tones of flowers. Fragrance filled the air at Swapna Nagari on Saturday as an army of 1,000 people, including 500 students, created the world's biggest 'Pookalam' (floral carpet), to get into the Guinness book of records. The design was selected from 15 entries and the one by C K Suresh, who won the design championship, was used.

Spread over a massive 17, 622 square feet, the carpet was made with creativity supported by 25 artists. The carpet had set a world record. The previous record was set in 2008 at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor stadium at Ernakulum, where Kerala Police prepared a 'Jana Maithri pookkalam' over 12000 square feet.

The carpet was made with seven kinds of flowers representing 7 continents taking 2 hours and eight minutes.

For making on the spot assessment of the function, officials from the Guinness book of world records and Limca book of world records were present. As many as 14,500 kg flowers were used including Chrysanthemum, Chethi, vadamalli, and Dalia brought from Thovala. The attempt was led by 72 group leaders,

Akshaya Trithiya 2010

Akshaya Trithiya, or Akha Teej, is a highly auspicious day which falls on the third day after Amavasi (no moon) in the Hindu month of Vaishakha. In 2010, the date of Akshaya Trithiya is May 16. As per Hindu astrology and almanac, each second on the Akshaya Trithiya day is auspicious. It is said that there is no need to look for a ‘muhurat’ on the day. The word Akshaya means ‘that which never diminishes’ and the day is ideal for beginning new ventures as it is believed that all investments on this day appreciates.

In a traditional Hindu lunar calendar, Akshay Tritiya is observed on the third day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Vaishakh Month.

It is believed that the sun and the moon are most radiant and best placed on the day. Therefore it is one of the most popular dates in Hindu calendar for marriages, for beginning new ventures, for investing and for purchasing valuables like gold and diamond.

Parashuram Jayanti is also observed on Akshaya Tritiya day. There are numerous legends associated with Akshaya Tritiya; most popular is that of Sudama or Kuchela visiting Lord Krishna in Dwarka with a handful of beaten rice (poha or aval).

Another legend suggests that the Pandavas received the Akshaya Pathram (bowl) from Lord Krishna (in the Mahabharata) on this day.

It is also believed that Sage Vyasa began the composition of Mahabharata on the day.Lord Vishnu and his incarnations are worshipped on the day. People also conduct Lakshmi puja on Akshaya Tritiya.

But nowadays, Akshaya Trithiya is associated with gold purchase and many people wait for the day to make investments in gold