Iridium dome of temple elicits interest

Hundreds of people are thronging the ancient Sree Kumaramangalam Subramanya Swami Temple at Pandanad, Alappuzha district, every day to see the dome on the roof of the sanctum sanctorum, which is said to contain the precious metal iridium.

The temple in the village that comes under Chengannur taluk in the district was catapulted into fame after some unknown businessmen with foreign links made trade enquiries to buy the dome offering several crores of rupees. Iridium is a heavy brittle metallic element of the platinum group used in alloys and occurring in natural alloys with platinum or osmium.

Temple sources said that the foreign traders had informed the temple authorities that they had satellite pictures revealing that the dome had special powers and these were spreading around the temple. The temple authorities have decided to seek the advice of the Atomic Energy Commission in Thiruvanananthapuram to check whether the dome contained iridium.

The Sree Kumaramangaam Subramanya Swami Temple at Pandanad, supposed to be 2,000 years old, was constructed in a particular architectural style and its sanctum sanctorum was made of stone and wood, and roofed with copper plates. Local people and devotees are keeping vigil over the temple and its dome to thwart any possible theft.

The strange visitors to the temple had introduced themselves as agents of some foreign traders. Some of them claimed that they were settled abroad. They told the office-bearers of the temple that the satellite pictures they had availed of the temple showed the dome was spreading some mysterious power around. Some of them even said the dome contained iridium.

The agents offered crores of rupees as price for the dome. Soon after it, the office bearers informed the local people and devotees. The managing committee of the temple, has decided to approach the Atomic Commission to clear their doubts.