Govt may take temple treasure: Panel

What we have found in the temple are offerings made by successive kings of the Travancore princely state.

Retired Judge C S Rajan,a member of the panel appointed by the Supreme Court to prepare the inventory of assets in the chambers of Sree Padmamabhaswamy temple here,on Tuesday hinted that the recovered wealth could be taken over by the government by invoking the treasure trove Act.

Rajan told the media,What we have found in the temple are offerings made by successive kings of the Travancore princely state. Everyone knew that the properties existed in the temple. But only the quantity of the hidden wealth had not been revealed thus far, he said,adding that there had been a practice in the past among the kings to make an offering of a gold coin during their daily visit at the temple. As a result,thousands of coins had been deposited in the temple over 600-700 years. And if the SC directs,the panel would estimate the value of the recovered assets.

He said of the six chambers,five have been inspected. The panel would meet on Friday to decide on opening the sixth one,after consulting expert engineers.

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Noted historian Dr K N Panicker said the treasure found at the temple should be treated as the legacy of the state. The assets accumulated over centuries were the offerings made by kings and devotees. The kings from elsewhere had also contributed. It is a state property with a lot of public contributions, said the pro-Left historian.

Panicker said the assets could not be termed as Hindu property and it was deplorable to give a communal tone for the recovery of the temple wealth. The kings had made the offerings from the income of the state. The royal family got it from the public through taxes and penalties. The temple had existed from 10th century but attained prominence in 18th century. The recovery of gold ornaments and artifacts should be seen as an opportunity by the state to exhibit them in a special museum,said Panicker.