‘Use temple treasure for schools, hospitals’

Last Updated: Friday, July 08, 2011, 22:38

Tags: Temple treasure, KK Venugopal, Kerala

New Delhi: The head of the Travancore royal family renounced on Friday any personal claim to billions of dollars' worth of ancient treasure discovered in a temple in the kingdom his ancestors once ruled.

"The royal family is not claiming anything. No part belongs to the family," said KK Venugopal, a lawyer representing the descendants of the erstwhile rulers of the Travancore princely state in Kerala.

Mr Venugopal made the statement in the Supreme Court in New Delhi, which is driving efforts to establish ownership of the sacks of gold, precious stones and jewellery found last week at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr Venugopal said the head of the Travancore family, Marthanda Varma, believed the stunning treasure "should be used judiciously for religious and social purposes" such as building hospitals and schools.

"The artifacts may be kept in a museum independent of the temple," he added.

The temple, dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu, was built hundreds of years ago by the king of Travancore and donations by devotees have been kept in the temple's vaults ever since.

All but one of the vaults have been opened, with the value of the haul estimated at between 500 billion and one trillion rupees ($11-22 billion). The discoveries catapulted the Hindu shrine, renowned for its intricate sculptures, into the league of India's richest temples.

Since India achieved independence from Britain in 1947, a trust managed by descendants of the Travancore royal family has controlled the temple.

On Friday, the Supreme Court directed that the opening of the final vault be deferred and asked for suggestions from the state government and Varma's family on how the treasure should be secured and preserved.

Bureau Report

First Published: Friday, July 08, 2011, 22:38

Comments

mohan - pune
why this hindu money for schoo and hospitals?who has given authority to this man to tell like this?this is the conspiracy of missionaries and jehadi to destabileise kerala.why not ditribute trillon of dollar which has been kept ion the swiss bank and then tell something like this.hey hindu be united and stop all these nonsence.why all these nonsence day and nighit in tv chanll.who has given authority to discuss.this is a direct interferance with hindu relegion.dont give a single piae these missionary agent, those are coverting hindus day and nogth.jehadi killing hindus though out india,please for the sake of this nation please stop temple looting firsr.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

D.N.MAKHIJA - DELHI-(INDIA)
it is a pity that the such a big tresure has been lying un used in the temple. . it should be desided what to do after the opening of the last strong room ``b``....may be it is property of the temple but should be utilised for benefit of the temple,, the city of temple , and etc.so that it should become famous like tajmahal..

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Kewal - Anand
no, never. why every time media is talking about properties held by hindu trusts, temples? media never dare to talk about properties hold by church and mosque? why properties of only hindu temples or trusts are uesd (in the name of to fulfill social purposes?). every government wants to use property of hindu trust and temple for education and like that. but what about other religious trusts properties? why not their property are being used for preparing roads, schools, hospitals. this is totally ridicules. government only wants total control of all hindu temple propertie in the name of social welfare.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

dr k k mishra - durg chattisgarh india
the purpose of money % heath should be for sick ,needy & to rebuild character of indian politics& administration ,

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

RAJAT KUMAR MOHINDRU - JALANDHAR CITY.PUNJAB
it is really amazing to read that the head of the travancore royal family renounced any personal claim to billions of dollars worth ancient treasury discovered of his ancestors , the fund utilization for schools , colleges , hospitals is a right view focused on right direction .

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Amit Rajgadkar - Luton, UK / Nagpur (M.S.) India
it is very important to keep dignity of every religious place. instead of this the priority should be given to bring black money and ensure that the money should go in public domain for right cause for eg:- health or basic infrastructure and in agriculture. then we should talk about temple treasure . this is just the way to deviate the basic attention.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Rajeev Kumar Yadav - Kathmandu, Nepal
it is believed in our hindu mythology that lord vishnu is ``palan karta`` (who feeds) of this world. the treasure from temple can be expected to be blessings for india and its people. the same if used for human welfare not only in india but throughout the world will deemed to indirectly helping god in his work, as found in our religious purans, gitas etc.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

VAISHNAV - MUMBAI
if we start distributing or using temple monies in india what govt will do? the hell taxes collecting form citizens then go directly to politician donkeys. today common man is paying taxes at every single step. still govt is not using the money for public. education cess how much we are paying. how many school are constructed. pl check the ratio of govt schools and pvt schools. all pvt schools are also belongs to the politicians only. please dont think gods money to use for public use, if so even 10 percent also will not reach to a common man. insteadof hospitals, schools the politicians will use it for clubs, villas, star resorts etc., please let the money there with the god only. if you have confident on politicians then allow it. other wise please for the gods sake no.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Vaishnav - Mumbai
if every person and politicians starts thinking to take out the money first thing in india, more than 90% will go to politicians khazana.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

M.Rangarajan - Chennai
it is very absurd to say that the treaure found in the sri padmanabaswamy temple to be used for building schools and colleges. we are seeing the fate of huge amounts collected by the govt.by way of taxes. theyare looted like mohd.gazni lootedour country. let them be at the place where they belong.