Videos $11 billion treasure revealed beneath temple in India, Kerala .

A court-ordered search of vaults beneath a temple in India has turned up a treasure worth at least $11 billion, according to reports from the Indian state of Kerala.

An inventory of what lies beneath the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, as reported on the website Business-Standard.com and others, reads like a prop list from an "Indiana Jones" movie:

•Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and pearls
•Replicas of coconut shells made of pure gold
•Hundreds of thousands of gold and silver coins, some dating to the 16th century
•Gold chains as long as 18 feet
•Solid-gold human figurines and idols
•Crowns and pendants
•Gold and silver bars
The wealth was amassed in at least six vaults, some of which had not been opened in 150 years, according to media reports. India's Supreme Court ordered an inventory of the vaults after hearing a private complaint seeking "more transparency and trustworthiness in the temple administration," according to a report on the news website daijiworld.com.

The former royal family of Travancore manages the temple. For an explanation about how the treasure might have been amassed, check out this report from CommodityOnline.com.

The Kerala government said Monday the treasure will remain property of the shrine, according to media reports.

"The wealth belonged to the temple and it will be preserved where it was found. There is religious and historical significance to the findings. The state will ensure its security," Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the Times of India.

As word of the find has spread, Kerala police are asking for help to safeguard the treasure, according to media reports.

"It is too big a challenge for the police. We have no trained personnel to manage such a huge treasure. We have sought the help of several agencies who can really help us," Jacob Punnose, director general of the Kerala police, told India Today.

What might the treasure, which the Economic Times of India says is likely the biggest in the country, mean for Kerala, a south Indian state of 33 million people? The Economic Times has some ideas.

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• treasure temple in India
• kerala

[yesinfinity]

Imagine what the greedy British would have done with it if they had found it? (Answer: The British would have rape, pilage and plunder it. They probably are knocking their heads on the walls behind closed doors.) Guess the Mughals would have done the same. But as human, WE tend to get greedy by shiny, worthless objects. Hope the find does not bring about greed and that the treasure remains with the temple.

[karthikthomask]

@soundcheck2k7 christ nad christians r not of this world?..hahah im a a chrisitian and christianity is all abt hopocrisy and controling people by inflicting fear..or an excuse for preists to rape children.

[dkmkartha]

Words such as "wealth," "treasure," "antiques," etc. in this context are misnomers. These objects are articles that devotees of the Temple Deity have donated out of their free will through the centuries. They should be seen as "Danam," or donations and should be kept in the Deity's precincts. They are not meant for museum exhibitions or distribution to claimants. They are not property and therefore are not covered by secular law. They should be classified as "Vazhipaad"--gifts to a Deity.

[dkmkartha]

Words such as "wealth," "treasure," "antiques," etc. in this context are misnomers. These objects are articles that devotees of the Temple Deity have donated out of their free will through the centuries. They should be seen as "Danam," or donations and should be kept in the Deity's precincts. They are not meant for museum exhibitions or distribution to claimants. They are not property and therefore are not covered by secular law. They should be classified as "Vazhipaad"--gifts to a Deity.

[dkmkartha]

Words such as "wealth," "treasure," "antiques," etc. in this context are misnomers. These objects are articles that devotees of the Temple Deity have donated out of their free will through the centuries. They should be seen as "Danam," or donations and should be kept in the Deity's precincts. They are not meant for museum exhibitions or distribution to claimants. They are not property and therefore are not covered by secular law. They should be classified as "Vazhipaad"--gifts to a Deity.

[dkmkartha]

The word "treasure" or the phrase"temple treasure" is a misnomer. It should be called "collection of offerings to the Deity." The act is Daanam or sacred giving. No religion in the world permits the act of taking back something that was given out as a gift o a donation or an offering. That is the central ethical and legal point. Unfortunately, secular law does not seem to "get" it.

[dkmkartha]

The word "treasure" or the phrase"temple treasure" is a misnomer. It should be called "collection of offerings to the Deity." The act is Daanam or sacred giving. No religion in the world permits the act of taking back something that was given out as a gift o a donation or an offering. That is the central ethical and legal point. Unfortunately, secular law does not seem to "get" it.

[soundcheck2k7]

@rabin46 Don't associate Christ with these "riches" and other "worldly" items. Christ and actual CHRISTIANS are not of this world, we don't care for your "riches" and "treasures", for us...all of it is cursed and we have no need for it, our riches and treasure are in Jesus, who brings us peace and the real reward of eternal life, not these worldy items!! Next time, think before you post, don't generalize! You all can keep your billions in treasure.

[rabin46]

can you even imagin how much wealth muslims and christians systematically have stolen in india for centuries., thank god this was hidden at the temple, otherwise it would have been stolen looted and plundered like all of India by the worshippers of the satanic gods of poverty ...allah and christ .there is a reason why modern history starts with the discovery of the wealth of india..... as it was this wealth that financed european and islamic pseudo devellopment.