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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, July 5, 2012 (Daily Pioneer): Vault A, first of the six secret cellars of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram holding treasures worth over US$18 billion, was opened on Thursday morning for evaluation and documentation of the invaluable artifacts, ornaments and other items kept in it. An expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court for the evaluation and documentation of the six secret chambers in the temple has prepared detailed guidelines for the examination of Vault A. This vault is said to be holding 90 percent of the treasures which gave the Sri Padmanabha temple the status of the richest Hindu shrine in the world. Vault A is holding a minimum of 300 pitchers made of solid gold, 2,500 Sarapoli Malas (gold chains studded with several diamonds and rubies), several stone-crowns and other items collected there over the centuries. According to the temple records, invaluable articles that had been given to the temple as offerings since fourteenth century are kept in this vault. Preliminary assumption of the expert committee is that a minimum of four to six months would be required to document and evaluate the articles kept in Vault A. The vault was opened on Thursday as the scientific assessment of items in vaults C and D was over. Evaluation of the articles in Vault C was completed a month ago while that of Vault D was completed on Monday. Vault D used to be opened five times a year to take out items required for puja on auspicious occasions.

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