An anxious wait likely to end

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The mysteries that lie inside seem as vague and impenetrable as the surmises that float outside. It could be gleaming jewels, glittering crowns or timeless scholarly exegeses, or as some bitter cynics put it, it could even be sheer emptiness. Meanwhile, the centuries-old chambers of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple will be opened to set speculations at rest, most likely on June 27. The final decision to open the chamber will however be taken at a crucial meeting of the seven-member committee which will be held on June 27 morning.The six chambers inside the temple are being opened as per a Supreme Court order. According to the order, the chambers should be opened and a detailed inventory of articles, ornaments and other valuables inside them should be prepared. The articles will be sorted and listed in the presence of two observers appointed by the Supreme Court, Justice M N Krishnan and Justice C S Rajan, both retired High Court judges, first petitioner and head of the Travancore royal family Marthanda Varma, second petitioner and executive officer of the temple V K Harikumar, first respondent Adv. T P Sundararajan, Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar and Archives Director J Rejikumar.The much speculated, less-known treasures are laden inside six chambers, three frequently-opened ones and the other three have been remaining closed for a long time. The Mathilakom documents at the Archives Department testify to the opening of the chambers on special occasions like festivals and processions. The documents say that the chambers are opened and ornaments and jewels are taken out to adorn Sree Padmanabha during processions or special poojas. A registry possessed by the temple authorities keeps a record of articles whenever they are taken out and kept back. If available records are veritable, the three chambers are being opened after a long time dating back to centuries.The time-worn faces long associated with the temple conjure up priceless treasures deep inside the chambers. But those who will actually perform the task are absolutely clueless. "We can’t really say what could be inside the chambers. It could be anything. At present, we are also as curious as everyone. Our job is to draw an inventory of whatever found inside and we are now concerned with this task alone,’’ says an official.