Padmanabhaswamy Temple begins 56-day Murajapam ritual today. Rare festival held once in six years culminates with Lakshadeepam on January 14.
The sacred Murajapam-Lakshadeepam festival at Thiruvananthapuram’s Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple commenced November 20, 2025, marking the rare 56-day ritual held once every six years. Initiated centuries ago by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma and the Travancore royal family for kingdom prosperity, the ceremony features hundreds of Vedic scholars from across India continuously chanting all four Vedas including Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and this year for the first time, Atharvaveda. Daily chanting occurs from 6:30-8:30 AM and 9-11 AM, with Jalajapam water-immersion mantras at Padmatheertha Kulam from 6-7 PM.
The ritual unfolds in seven muras, each lasting eight days and concluding with Muraseeveli processions at 8:30 PM. Deities of Padmanabha Swamy, Narasimha Swamy, and Thiruvambadi Krishna Swamy are carried on decorative vahanas including Anantha Vahana, Kamala Vahana, Indra Vahana, and Pallinilavu Vahana through the temple’s outer corridor. The festival culminates January 14, 2026, with Makara Shiveli and Lakshadeepam when 100,000 oil lamps illuminate the temple. Darshan that day equals attaining Vaikuntha Darshanam according to tradition.
Veda Mandapams have been established at all four temple entrances so devotees can directly experience Vedic recitations and Sahasranama chanting. Sanyasis from Sringeri, Udupi, Uttaradi, Kanchipuram mutts and Chinna Jeeyar Swami participate alongside scholars from across Kerala. Special Kalabhabhishekam occurs December 27 to January 7.
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