Image from P Ramanathan

The door of vault ' B ' of the Sree Padmanabahaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram secured by 'NAgapAsam' नागपाशम (the serpent rope). Only those mahayogis महायोगी who have painstakingly mastered the 'garudamantram' गरुडमन्त्रं (the brahmini kite 'mantram') through tough penance and know to recite it as prescribed in the 'sastras' शास्त्रं or only great magicians मन्त्रवादि can open this. This door secured during the reign of Marthandavarma Maharajaमार्ताण्डवर्म महाराजा by 'mantrasiddhi' मन्त्रसिद्धि (expertise obtained through the recitation of 'mantras') has neither bolts nor keys.

 Garuda

The brahminy kite (left) is considered the contemporary representation of Garuda. Garuda may be also identified with an eagle. Vishnu riding Garuda (right) depicted as a complete bird in this painting by Raja Ravi Varma.

(Refer Wikipedia for more on Garuda)

Marthanda Varma King of TravancoreReign 1729– 7 July 1758

(More in Wikipedia)

P. Ramanathan.