Treasures found in Indian Hindu temple.

[1660]

"Taken from the masses
Historical evidence backs the claim that Marthanda Varma was responsible for most of the wealth found in the recent search. True, the bags of gold coins, diamonds, precious stones, 18-feet-long gold necklaces, jewellery weighing many kilograms, and solid-gold statues of gods and goddesses landed in the vault via the king. But in reality, the temple treasury was nourished by the sweat and blood of the masses as well.

One of the main sources of the royal income was taxes. They were incredibly high for the lower castes, with marriages, childbirth and even death being taxed. Country boats, ploughs, carts, umbrellas, headscarves, why, even a moustache, were taxed. Mothers were allowed to breastfeed their newborns only after they paid the ‘mulakaram’ (breast-tax) to the local lord, who would then grant permission."

Depending on the source, it could be $22 billion in gold, gems, art. It will all be inventoried and I'm sure it will be worth more than estimates.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/...cle2154027.ece



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...an-temple.html



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/wo...ndia.html?_r=1



http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report...-taxes_1564164



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Padmanabhaswamy_temple

[RRnold]

aka corruption and greed! I wonder what they plan to do with all that "treasure"?

[alexmotrix]

give it to cows

[Dimman]

All that tax sounds like Canada...

[Ryuu0u]

Oooh i read this somewhere else. Kinda makes me wish i had studied archeology. =(

I wudda gona all tomb raider/Indiana Jones before the govt stepped in. @_@