Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai
Parthasarathy Perumal Temple | |
---|---|
Thiruvallikēñi Venkatakrishna Parathasarathy Perumal Thirukoil | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Chennai |
Deity | Sri Venkatakrishnan (Moolavar), Sri Parthasarathy (Urchavar) Sri Vedavalli Thaayar |
Festivals | Panguni Serthi, Pallava Utsavam, Ramanujar Utsavam, Vaikunda Ekadashi, Every Friday Sri Vedavalli Thayar Purappadu |
Location | |
Location | Pallavas[1] |
Completed | 6th century AD[1] |
Part of a series on |
Vaishnavism |
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The Parthasarathy Temple is a 6th-century
It was originally built by the
Legend
As per Hindu legend, the
History
The temple was originally built by the
The temple was extensively built during the Chola period and a lot of inscriptions dating back to the same period are found here. The outer most mandapam is replete with sculptures of various forms of Vishnu, especially the avatars. One can also see inscriptions of Dantivarma Pallava of the 8th century, Chola and Vijayanagara in the temple. The first architectural expansion of the temple took place during the reign of the Pallavas (Tondaiyar Kon) as vividly described by Tirumangai Alvar. Reminiscent of this is the inscription of the Pallava King Dantivarman (796–847 CE), which is preserved in the temple.
The temple witnessed a major expansion during the rule of the
A Pallava king built the present temple in the eighth century. The gopuram was also built by a Pallava king - Tondaiman Chakravarthy. There are inscriptions that record the contributions of the Chola kings Raja Raja and Kulottunga III, Pandya King Maravarman and many rulers of the Vijayanagara dynasty including Ramaraja Venkatapathiraja and Vira Venkatapathy. For a while the East India Company administered the temple.
The pushkarani is called Kairavani and five sacred teerthams are believed to surround the tank –
It is one of the very few shrines in the country dedicated to Krishna as Parthasarathy, charioteer of Arjuna and to contains idols of three avatars of Vishnu: Narasimha, Rama, and Krishna.[4]
Unusually, he is depicted with a prominent moustache and carries a conch in his hand. Also unusual is the iconographical combination found in the sanctum. Here, Krishna is seen standing with consort Rukmini, elder brother Balarama, son Pradyumna, grandson Aniruddha and Satyaki. Because of the association of the temple with Krishna, Tiruvallikeni came to be regarded as the Southern Vrindavana.[16][20][21] He also mentioned about the Telliya Singar shrine within the temple.[13]
The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[22]
Religious traditions
The temple is administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
As per Sri Pillailogam Jeeyar Swamy in his work "Ramanuja Divya Charithai" it is stated that Sri Asoori Kesava Somayaji, father of Ramanuja, performed Putrakaameshti Yagam at Kairavini the temple pond at Thiruvallikeni, and prayed to Parthasarathy to bless him with a son. Parthasarathy appeared in the dreams of Sri Asoori Kesava Somayaji and promised he will be born as his son to impart teachings of his Gita for the benefit of mankind. The Bhagavad Gita Bhāshya (a review and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita), was later written by Ramanuja. In conformity of the above tradition during the annual festival, unlike other Alvars and acharyas, Ramanuja has independent processions both in the morning and evening.
In the month of Vaikasi, the occasions of Sri Varadarajar utsavam, Sri Nammalvar utsavam (vaikasi-vishakam), and Vasantotsavam are celebrated,
Utsavams
Utsavams take place around the year in Parthasarathy temple. Urchavams (or
The temple is administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The following are the various festivals or utsavams in the Parthasarathy temple in different parts of the
Traditional Tamil calendar month (Gregorian calendar months) | Festival |
---|---|
Chittirai (April–May) | Sri Brahma Utsavam (Brahmotsavam)[26][27]
Sri Udaiyar's Utsavam and Vidaiyatri |
Vaikasi (May–June) | Vasantotsavam
Sri Gajendra Varadaraja Swami Utsavam Sri Ranganatha-Sri Vedavalli Tayar Utsavam |
Ani (June–July) | Sri Narasimha Swami Brahmotsavam
Kodai Utsavam |
Adi (July–August) | Sri Gajendra Moksham
Sri Parthasarathy Jyeshtabishekam Tiru Pavadai Utsavam Tiru Adi Puram Jyeshtabhishekam |
Avani (August–September) | Pavitrotsavam
Krishna Jayanti (Krishna Janmashtami) |
Puratasi (September–October) | Navaratri
Vedavalli Tayar Laksharachana |
Aippasi (October–November) | Manavala Mamunigal Utsavam
Anna kuda utsavam |
Kartikai (November–December) | Kartikai Deepam
Taila Kapu |
Margaḻi (December–January) | Margaḻi Pagal Pattu
Ra Pattu |
Tai (January–February) | Laksharachana of Parthasarathy
Rathasaptami Festival to Ekkatuthangal |
Masi (February–March) | Masi Magam
Teppam or Teppotsavam Dhavana Utsavam |
Panguni (March–April) | Panguni Uttiram |
The most important among these festivals are the Vaikunda Ekadesi – as huge crowds from not only chennai, but also various parts of Tamil Nadu and India come to the temple on this day; Theppam or Thepotsavam – the colourful float festival, and the utsavam for the main deity Parthasarathy.
Theppam (Float) festival
Also known Teppothsavam (= Theppam + Utsavam), this pictorial and colourful festival takes place on 7 days in the Tamil month of masi, 3 days for Parthasarathy, one each for Sri Narasimhar, Sri Ranganathar, Sri Ramar and Sri Gajendra Varadhar. The seven-day event attracts a large number of devotees and onlookers from different parts of Chennai and Tamil Nadu.
A floating structure made up of drums, timber would be constructed and would be beautifully decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings, silken buntings, etc. which serves as a visual delight. For better ambience, lights were also installed in the garden around the tank and additionally, focus lights were placed on the corners of the Neerazhi Mandapam (the Mandapam (structure) in the Center of the temple tank). Perumal (God) would come to the temple tank in Purappadu (departure) and be placed majestically inside the float. On all the days, the float completed five rounds around the Neerazhi Mandapam. After this, the deities were taken in a procession around the four Mada Streets.
Devotees in hundreds would converge and sit on the steps of the temple tank to have Darshan of the Lord on Theppam. The specialty of the third day function is the 'Thirumanjanam', performed to the deity inside the float. Other than the bhattachariars (temple priests), no one is allowed inside the float. A Rescue team of about 10 swimmers is usually provided by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services.[25][28][29]
This theppam festival exhibits one of the aspects of the richest cultural heritage aspects of Triplicane which one can see nowhere else in Chennai, other than Mylapore.
Incidents
The temple had internal conflict from the 1750s till the end of the century between the two subsects of
The bearers at the temple were traditionally fishermen of Triplicane.[31] During the temple festivities, they carry the festival idol in their sturdy shoulders in an atmosphere of wine and toddy shops.[31] They bargained for additional rights in the temple in 1928, which eventually ended their ties with the temple.[31]
Muthuswami Dikshitar, composer of Indian classical music, who is considered one of the musical Trinity of Carnatic music composed the song "Shri Parthasarathina pAlitOsmyaham" on this Kshethram.[32]
Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Hindu monk was a devotee of Parthasarathy. In one of his letters in the year 1893 to his disciple Alasinga, he writes 'Take a bow before Parthasarathy of Thiruvallikeni and give an undertaking before Him of a great sacrifice, one of a whole life for the poor, the lowly and the oppressed – for whom Parthasarathy comes from time to time and whom he loves above all.' You can find this letter to his disciple inscribed in one of the walls at temple corridor.[33]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Silas 2007, p. 114
- ^ a b c Kamath 2002, pp. 31–33
- ^ Sullivan 1997, p. 126
- ^ a b Let's Go India & Nepal 8th Ed By Jane Yang, Let's Go, Inc., Inc. Let's Go
- ^ de Bruyn 2010, p. 320
- ^ Kamath 2000, p. 275
- ^ K.V.Raman (7 May 2002). "Unique Temple". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 July 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ Lalithasai (18 December 2011). "Religious facets of Thirumayilai, Thiruvallikeni". The Hindu, Downtown, Chennai. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Official Website". Parthasarathy Temple, Official Website. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 47.
- ^ a b R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 440–2.
- ^ Sajnani 2001, p. 306
- ^ a b c Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee, pp. 356–357
- ISBN 9788120618503.
- ^ a b Ayyar 1991, pp. 19–20
- ^ a b Lalithasai (18 December 2011). "Religious facets of Thirumayilai, Thiruvallikeni". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ISBN 9788125014539.
- ^ "The benign radiance of Gitacharyan". The Hindu. 21 May 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-90-6831-701-5.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link - ^ "Parthasarathy Temple - Article From Dinamalar Temples". Dinamalar Temples. Dinamalar, Temples, In English Language, Available in Tamil also. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ISBN 81-7017-398-1. Retrieved 16 April 2012.]
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help)[permanent dead link - ^ Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
- ^ "Various events and Schedule of Triplicane Parthasarthy Temple Brahmotsavam e-darshan.org" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple | Marrakech World!". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2007.
- ^ "Brahmotsavam at Triplicane". The Hindu, Downtown, Chennai. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ "Picture of Temple car - Article : Brahmotsavam at Triplicane". The Hindu, Downtown. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ Lalithasai "Annual float festival of Sri Parthasarathy Temple", The Hindu - Downtown, Chennai, 13 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ T.S. Atul Swaminathan. "Annual float festival at Parthasarathy Temple", The Hindu, Downtown, Chennai, 4 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mukund 2005, pp. 64–66
- ^ a b c Government of Madras Staff 2004, p. 112
- ^ https://www.karnatik.com/c5956.shtml
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
References
- Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1991). South Indian shrines: illustrated. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
- Deutsch, Eliot; Dalvi, Rohit (2004). The Essential Vedanta. Bloomington: World Wisdom.
- de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David (2010). Frommer's India. Frommer's. ISBN 978-0-470-55610-8.
- Government of Madras Staff (2004). Gazetteer of the Nellore District: Brought Upto 1938. Madras: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-1851-3.
- Kamath, Rina (2000). Chennai. Chennai: Orient Longman Limited. ISBN 978-81-250-1378-5.
- M.S., Ramesh (1993). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam Volume 1. Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
- Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee (1994). The Madras Tercentenary Commemoration Volume. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0537-3.
- Mukund, Kanakalatha (2005). The View from Below: Indigenous Society, Temples, and the Early Colonial State in Tamil Nadu 1700-1835. Hyderabad: Orient Longman Private Limited. ISBN 81-250-2800-5.
- Sajnani, Dr. Manohar (2001). Encyclopedia of tourism resources in India, Volume 2. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 81-7835-014-9.
- Silas, Sandeep (2007). Discover India by Rail. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers. ISBN 978-81-207-2939-1.
- Sullivan, Bruce M. (1997). Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. England: Scarecro Press INC. ISBN 81-250-2800-5.
- Various (2007). Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Chennai: Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2.