Maha Kumbhabhishekam performed at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple after 275 years

Thiruvananthapuram: A 'Maha Kumbhabhishekam' was performed at the famed Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram after 275 years on Sunday.

Installation of 'Tazhikakudams', a new idol of Vishwaksena replacing a 300 year old one and 'Ashtabandha' rituals of the Thiruvambady Sreekrishna Swamy temple were also performed on Sunday.

It was based on the deficiencies pointed out at a 'Devaprashna' held in 2011 that the corrective measures were carried out..

While three golden 'Tazhikakudams' were installed on top of the Sreekovil, and one more was installed on top of the 'Ottakkal Mandapam'. Repair works of the gold-plated doors of the main sanctum were also carried out.

The 300 years old Vishwaksena idol, which is considered a manifestation of Lord Vishnu, is installed below the 'Ottakkal Mandapam' near the feet of Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy.

The protective and administrative duties of Lord Vishnu are believed to be completely entrusted with Vishwaksena. The daily temple accounts and expenditure reports of the temple are still symbolically submitted before Vishwaksena.

This idol has been made by using a special ayurvedic composite mixture called Kadusharkara Yogam, which is a sacred composite mixture used for making of temple idols.

Idols of Sree Padmanabhaswamy and Sree Adikesava Perumal of Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari are made using Kadusharkara Yogam. Ingredients of Kadusharkara Yogam include jackfruit tree's latex, soil from the Triveni Sangamam and Ganges basin, powdered conch, soil touched by elephants, cows, and bulls. In the idol making bones and nerves are also created using Karingali wood and coconut fibre strands.

The 'Ashtabandhanam' involved the preparation of special adhesive to fix the idols. Idols are refixed after every 12 years using the 'Ashtabandhanam'.

The rituals were held under the supervision of the temple head tantri Brahmashri Govindan Namboothirippad.