DivyaDesam– Lord Vishnu | One of the DivyaDesamVishnuSthalam |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 18thVishnuSthalam |
HISTORY:
Sri
Parthasarathy Swami temple, situated in Triplicane, a sector in Chennai, is
about 5kms. from Chennai Egmore station. The place is well connected with
frequent bus service and has a station in the Mayilai Metro Rail division.
‘Triplicane’ is the anglicized version of ‘Thiru allik keni’ , meaning ‘the sacred
pond with lily flowers’ – in Sanskrit called ‘kairavini saras’. Tradition says
that this holy pond carries within it five different sacred waters. The place
is also called ‘Brinda Aranyam’(tulasi forest) because this area was encircled
by a sprawling basil wood, once upon a time. Historically, the place is 2000
years old, which had enjoyed the holy services of the Pallava and the Chola
kings – a very important holy place consecrated (mangalashasanam) by the
Alvars.
The
Prime Deity in the sanctum sanctorum is Venkatakrishnan Who stands
majes-tically with His Consort, Rukmini, surrounded by their family members,
Balaraman, Sathyagi, Aniruddhan and Pradyumnan. The Lord is facing east with
the Conch (Panchajanyam) in His right hand (without the Chakra) and His left
hand pointing to His feet. He is the ‘Lord of Gitopadesam’ – Lord Krishna was
Arjuna’s chariot-driver during the Kurukshetra War and preached him the
Bhagavat Gita when he refused to take arms against his own kith and kin. The
Prime Deity is a gigantic icon 9 feet high with an impressive moustache,
typical of a chariot-driver – a unique aspect not seen in other Vishnu temple.
The image of the Prime Deity was the gift of sage Vyasa to sage Athreya, the
former directing the latter to install it in this place.
Sri
Thiagraja Swamigal and Sri Muthuswami Dishithar of the Carnatic Music Trinity,
Mahakavi Bharathi had sung the glory of the Lord Parthasarathy. It is generally
accepted that Bharathi’s Kannan songs are on Lord of the temple. Swami
Vivekananda, Maths genius Ramanujam, politician Sathyamurthy had worshipped
Lord Parhasarathy. Lord Gajendra Varadha appears on Baghwan Garuda praised as
Perumal granting Garudaseva for ever. Saints Tirukachi Nambi, Sri Vedantha
Desika, Acharya Ramanuja, Manavalamamunigal, Chakarathazhwar, Tirumazhisai
Azhwar are in the prakara.
Some
nivedhanas are famous in Perumal temples – Tirupati Laddu, saltless rice in
Uppiliappan Koil and Dosa in Madurai Kallazhagar temple. Sweet Pudding –
Sarkarai Pongal is famous in Parthasarathi temple. For every 2 kilogram rice,
they add 400 gm cashewnuts and 700 gm ghee in the preparation. Devotees can pay
and get it prepared for them for the nivedhana of Lord. The region was once
dense with Tulsi plants. Pallavas and Cholas did renovations in the temple.
Lord
Krishna-Parthasarathy received the arrows on Himself shot by Bishma to protect
Arjuna while managing his rath in the battlefield. These scars are visible in
Lord’s face even now. Based on this history, Perumal is praised as
Parthasarathy – driver of Partha-Arjuna. The Ghee component in the nivedhana is
more to cure these wounds, it is said. No spices are used in the nivedhanas to
Lord. Praying to Lord Parthasarathy, people of unattractive complextion will
understand the truth that beauty is not a constant one but may or will vanish
one day due to age, illness or any other incidents in life.
In
days of yore, Sage Brugu performed penance here to have Lord as his son-in-law.
He found a female child in the Alli flower in the Pushkarini here. He took the
child, named Her Vedavalli. When she attained the marriageable age, Lord
Ranganatha came to this place and married Her. This wedding festival is
celebrated in the temple on the 12th day-Dwadasi in full moon fortnight in the
month of Masi-February-March. Vedavalli Thayar blesses the devotees from Her
own separate shrine. She does not come out in procession outside the temple but
goes round the prakara only on Fridays and Uthiram star days.
Lord
Krishna’s role in Mahabharatha is unique by itself, promoting family harmony.
As Venkatakrishna in the sanctum, He appears with Mother Rukmini nearby, Mother
Mahalakshmi in chest, brother Balarama at His right and Satyagi at the left,
son Padyumnan and grandson Aniruddha – with His whole family. Lord Rama grants
darshan from a separate shrine with Mother Sita, Lakshmana, Bharatha, Satrugna
and Sri Anjaneya.
Disc
is the main weapon of Lord Vishnu. He is without that weapon here. He vowed
that He would support the Pandavas in the war but would not hold any weapon. As
Parathasarathy, he appears without disc. He holds only the conch to announce
the war. Also, He is with two hands only as Krishna in human form.
A
heroic appearance demands a moustache for a majestic look. Presiding deity
Venkatakrishna-Parthasarathy appears with this Alankar. He is also praised as
Meesai Perumal. Meesai in Tamil means moustache. During the Day 10 (Pagal Pathu
in Tamil) utsav in connection with Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January, Lord
appears without moustache from day 6 to 10. During abishek on Fridays he is
dressed without moustache.
Against
the tradition of one deity in presiding status, there are five in this temple
with this importance. Lord Venkatakrishna is in the main sanctum sanctorum.
Lord Ranganatha and Lord Sri Rama are in the front Mandap. Lords
Gajendravaradha and Yoga Narasimha are in the prakara shrines. Hence, the
temple is praised as Panchamurthi Sthala. In the Ranganatha shrine, Lord Varaha
is near the head and Lord Narasimha at the feet. They are accommodated in the shrine
as they accompanied Lord Ranganatha when He came to wed Thayar Vedavalli. Lord
is also known as Sriman Natha as addressed by Mother when He came to wed Her.
There are flag posts-Kodimarams and entrances for Venkatakrishna facing east
and Yoga Narasimha facing west.
Yoga
Narasimha in the separate shrine is the first deity of the temple. Day’s first
puja is dedicated to Him. He had granted darshan to Sage Athri. The bells in
the shrine do not have the sound producing tongue in them as sound would be a hindrance
to Yoga of the Lord. They are just fixed on the shrine door simply for a show.
Devotees offer salt and pepper on a platform behind Yoga Narasimha praying for
remedy to the illness they face.
Veda
Vyasa handed over to his disciple Athreya an idol of Lord Krishna and asked him
to undertake penance in Brindharanya Kshetram. Legend has it that Sage Athreya
came to Thiruvellikeni, placed the idol here and created the temple. In a later
period in time, a King by name Sumathi who undertook penance at Tirumalai
seeking darshan of the ‘Charioteer Lord’, the one who piloted Arjuna through
the Mahabharata battle, was directed to the Brindharanya Kshetram and asked to
offer his prayers to the ‘Lord of Brindharanyam’. It is believed that Lord,
with a conch in his right hand, provided darshan to the king here as
Venkatakrishnan. Hence, this place is also called the ‘Second Tirupathi’.
Vishnu
devotee, king Sumathirajan by name had a desire to have the darshan of Lord as
the Sarathy of Arjuna in the Kurukshetra battle field. He prayed to God for the
darshan which Lord obliged as controlling and managing the rath of
Partha-Arjuna. The king begged the Lord to stay in the place in the same form.
Perumal appears only with His conch and not the disc. Lord absorbed the arrows
shot by Bhishma aimed at Arjuna and thus sustained injuries. The scars are
visible even now. Parthasarathi is the procession deity. As He grew prominent
among the devotees, the temple came to be known as Parthasarathy temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Vengadakrishnan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Vedavalli |
|
Theertham |
Kairavinisaras Theertham |
People pray to Lord in
the temple for good education and wisdom. They also pray to perumal seeking
wedding and child boon.
In
the month of Vaigasi, Sri Varadarajar uthsavam, Sri Nammalwar uthsavam
(vaigasi-visagam) and Vasanthothsavam are celebrated. Sri Azhagiyasingar
(Lord Narashimha) during the Tamil month of Aani (June–July). So uniquely
two Bhrammotsavams are performed here annually. There are also festivals for
Ramanuja (April–May) and Manavalamamunigal (Oct-Nov) besides festivals for
Alvars and Acharyas. Vaikunta Ekadesi and during the Tamil month
of Margazhi (December–January)
draws lot of pilgrims.
HOW
TO REACH:
Triplicane-Tiruvallikeni
is an important division in Chennai city. Town buses are available from every
corner of the city to reach the temple comfortably. Electric train facility is
also available.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Parthasarathy
Perumal Thirukkoil,
Thiruvallikeni,
Chennai ,
Tamil Nadu - 600005.
LOCATION:
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