ALAPPUZHA, KERALA, INDIA, November 16, 2008: The administration committee of the Muthavazhi Subramanian Temple says that “foreign dealers” have approached them to buy their temple’s dome. They stated that a “German-based firm had satellite images and has confirmed, through radiations, the presence of iridium” in the dome, a precious metal several times costlier than gold.
According to M V Gopakumar, president of Muthavazhi Subramanian temple, the managing committee of the shrine had of late been getting inquiries from several quarters about the “power” of the dome. Several people approached them, offering a hefty sum if the temple was willing to sell it.
A team from the State Archaeology Department conducted inspections. State Archaeology Director G. Ramachandran, who led the inspection team, said that preliminary investigations revealed that the temple was indeed “very old,” perhaps “as much as the historic Chengannur temple,” more than 2,000 years old. The presence of iridium and the claims of emission of radiation will be confirmed only by national research laboratories. In the mean time, temple authorities are looking to increase security because of the possibility the dome could be stolen.