A major security concern has surfaced at the famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple after reports revealed that gold ornaments and a diamond-studded sacred item are missing from the temple treasury. The issue came to light through a police report submitted by the Director General of Police to the Kerala Home Secretary, raising serious concerns about the safety of the temple’s priceless treasures.

According to the report, nearly 78 grams of gold ornaments and a diamond-studded item known as the Vairam Nama are currently unaccounted for. The report has pointed out weaknesses in the present security arrangements and stressed the need for urgent action to protect the valuables stored inside the temple.

Temple records reportedly show that the Vairam Nama had been taken out several months ago for repair work. However, the item has still not been returned to the temple treasury. In another worrying development, a gold lamp that was sent out for maintenance around six months ago is also yet to be traced. The disappearance of these valuables has created concern among devotees as well as officials responsible for managing the temple’s historic wealth.

The DGP has recommended several steps to improve security at the temple. The report suggests that all gold and silver valuables should be shifted to highly secure vaults for better protection. It has also been recommended that offerings made by devotees should be stored in dedicated lockers instead of being kept in open storage areas. The police chief further advised that strict security screening should be carried out at every entry point so that no one is allowed inside the premises without proper checks.

Authorities believe these measures will help strengthen surveillance and reduce the chances of theft or mishandling of valuables inside one of the country’s richest temples. The incident has once again brought attention to the challenges involved in protecting centuries-old treasures kept in religious institutions.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the most respected Hindu temples in the country and is dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu. Located in Thiruvananthapuram, the temple is also among the 108 Divya Desams, which are considered sacred pilgrimage sites in the Sri Vaishnava tradition. The temple has been mentioned several times in Sangam-era literature, including the ancient Tamil epic Cilappatikaram.

Historians and scholars have often linked the temple’s enormous wealth to its historical identity as “The Golden Temple.” Many believe this title reflected the immense riches associated with the shrine even during the early Sangam period. The latest report about the missing valuables has therefore not only raised security concerns but has also highlighted the importance of preserving and safeguarding the temple’s historic treasures for future generations.