The Divine Connection Between Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Muktinath: A Journey Carved in Shaligrama

Across the expanse of the Indian subcontinent lie sacred places that are not only powerful in their own right but are also deeply interconnected through shared mythology, spiritual energy, and divine materials. Among the most extraordinary of these is the mystical link between the Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and the Muktinath Temple in Mustang, Nepal.

Though geographically distant—one nestled by the Arabian Sea, the other high in the Himalayas—these two temples share a profound spiritual bond, united by their inclusion in the 108 Divya Desams and the rare use of Shaligrama stones in their main deities.

Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple – The Supreme Reclining Vishnu

Situated in the heart of Kerala’s capital city, the Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his cosmic form—reclining on the great serpent Ananta (Adishesha). The majestic idol stretches over 18 feet in length and is viewed through three separate doorways—the face, torso, and feet seen individually.

More than a temple, this is a sanctum of timeless devotion. Historically protected and maintained by the Travancore royal family, the rulers considered themselves not kings, but Padmanabha Dasas—servants of the deity. The temple’s immense spiritual and historical importance is matched by its architectural grandeur and its status as one of the richest temples in the world.

Muktinath Temple – The Lord of Liberation

High in the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal lies Muktinath, a sacred shrine venerated by both Hindus and Buddhists. Known in the Vaishnavite tradition as Saligramam, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Sri Muktinath, the granter of moksha—liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Pilgrims trek through rugged terrain to reach this divine space, where 108 water spouts gush with icy glacial water—each one symbolizing a sacred mantra and aspect of Vishnu. The temple sits in the very landscape where Shaligrama stones—sacred to Lord Vishnu—are found naturally in the Gandaki River.

A Shared Place Among the 108 Divya Desams

The connection between these two temples is further solidified by their presence in the 108 Divya Desams, the most sacred shrines of Lord Vishnu as celebrated by the Alwars, the Tamil Vaishnava saints. Both Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Muktinath (Saligramam) are counted among these revered sites, symbolizing that from the Himalayas to the southern shores of India, the divine presence of Vishnu is continuous and all-encompassing.

The Sacred Stone That Unites Them: Shaligrama

Perhaps the most astonishing and rare connection between these two temples lies in the material of the main deity. Both temples enshrine Vishnu idols made entirely of Shaligrama stones—a feat of spiritual and artistic magnitude.

What is a Shaligrama?

Shaligrama stones are fossilized ammonites, found exclusively in the Gandaki River near Muktinath, Nepal. These stones are not carved idols—they are naturally formed, sacred symbols of Lord Vishnu, believed to be self-manifest (svayambhu). Revered across Vaishnavite traditions, worshipping even a single Shaligrama is said to bestow peace, prosperity, and ultimately, moksha.

A Historic Sacred Journey from Nepal to Kerala

The story of how the Shaligrama stones reached Thiruvananthapuram is both fascinating and spiritually significant.

When Did This Happen?

While exact records are lost to time, historical estimates and temple traditions suggest that the transportation of the Shaligrama stones occurred during the 8th to 10th centuries CE—a period of intense Vaishnavite revival and temple construction in South India.

During this time, the Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple was undergoing major renovations, and the massive 18-foot idol of Vishnu reclining on Ananta was installed. The idol was sculpted from 108 Shaligrama stones, each one carefully selected and ritually transported from the Gandaki River.

A Ritual, Not Just a Journey

The transportation of these stones was no ordinary movement of materials. It was a sacred ritual, possibly spanning months or years, and involved:

• Priests and scholars who selected specific stones marked with Vishnu symbols.
• Riverine and land-based caravans that carried the stones through ancient pilgrimage routes.
• Continuous Vedic chanting, purification rituals, and offerings performed at various points along the way.

Once the stones reached Kerala, they were sculpted into the reclining form of Lord Vishnu and installed through prana pratishtha, the ritual that breathes life into the idol.

Why 108 Stones?

The use of 108 Shaligrama stones is deeply symbolic. In Hindu tradition, 108 is a sacred number that reflects cosmic completeness. There are 108 Upanishads, 108 names of deities, and 108 beads in a prayer mala. In this context, each Shaligrama stone represents a cosmic aspect of Vishnu, brought together in one divine form.

A Living Link Between Two Lands

The fact that stones from Muktinath’s riverbed form the very body of the deity in Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a powerful reminder that spiritual India and Nepal are one sacred geography. This bond is not only spiritual but also material, geological, and cultural.

Every darshan (sacred sight) of Lord Padmanabha in Kerala is also a silent bow to the sacred river Gandaki and to the original abode of Vishnu in Muktinath. This living bridge between the mountains and the sea, between liberation and preservation, is a rare and beautiful expression of Sanatana Dharma.

Conclusion: A Pilgrimage of the Soul

The divine connection between Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Muktinath Temple is more than a story—it’s a pilgrimage of the soul across lands, centuries, and sacred traditions. Bound by the Divya Desam legacy, united by the Shaligrama stone, and alive in the hearts of millions of devotees, these temples offer us a vision of oneness in diversity, and eternity in form.

To stand before Lord Padmanabha in Thiruvananthapuram or to bow at the icy heights of Muktinath is to touch the same divine presence—timeless, vast, and ever-gracious.

✨ Did You Know?

• The Shaligrama stones used at Padmanabhaswamy Temple were brought from Nepal centuries ago and carved into the massive idol that spans three sanctum doorways.
• Both deities—at Padmanabhaswamy and Muktinath—are made entirely of Shaligrama, a unique distinction among world temples.
• The journey of these stones was considered so sacred that continuous Vedic chanting accompanied them throughout their long passage from the Himalayas to the southern coast.