Parthasarathy Temple: Vrindavan of South India

The world is nothing but an experiment of God, which has been successful to a great extent. All creatures and everything else are just a product of God’s laboratory, and the divine order places humans at the top of the ladder, looking up at God in awe, saluting His mystic powers and imagination. However, this starry-eyed, surprised look is not always what God has received as a token of our appreciation and respect. Humans devised a way to showcase their admiration for God by erecting structures where all religious souls could gather to pay homage to the Supreme Being, worshipped in different avatars across the world. Indians were never behind in this pursuit. They constructed many abodes for God according to their sentiments and the avatar they chose to worship, of which the Parthasarathy Temple is an excellent example.

Location

Parthasarathy Temple is located in the ancient neighborhood of Triplicane in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu state.

History

This ancient Hindu temple was constructed by the rulers of the Pallava dynasty in the 8th century. It carries inscriptions from the same era in two dominant languages of the state—Telugu and Tamil—under the reign of King Dantivarman. A saint from the 9th century also credited Dantivarman for the construction of the temple. The inscriptions inside the temple indicate that it was expanded in the 15th century when the region was under the control of the Chola dynasty rulers. Several shrines and pavilions were added to the temple during this period. The temple was also administered by the East India Company for a while, after the British captured India.

Dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, the temple derives its name from the Sanskrit word Parthasarathy, which translates to “Charioteer of Arjuna”—a role Krishna played during the battle of the Mahabharata. This temple is one of the very few temples dedicated to Krishna’s role as Parthasarathy. It is sometimes referred to as the Vrindavan of South India. The temple’s administration and activities are now overseen by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, a body of the Tamil Nadu state government.

• Must Read: Famous Hindu Temples to Visit in Tamil Nadu

Structure

Following the patterns of South Indian temple architecture, the Parthasarathy Temple showcases intricate carvings on its pillars and entrance towers, also known as Gopurams. The temple has two entrances. The temple tank consists of five wells and is named Thiruvallikeni, after the birthplace of Vishnu’s consort, Lakshmi. There are several shrines in the temple, apart from the main shrine of the deity. The temple features four idols representing different avatars of Lord Vishnu: Krishna, Rama, Narasimha, and Varaha. The idols of the main deity and the other avatars reflect the three generations of Vishnu’s divine family.

Festivals and Traditions

The temple holds great importance among the followers of Vaishnavism. Several festivals are celebrated here, and people gather in large numbers to pay homage to the temple deities. The daily rituals of the temple begin when holy water is brought for the idols at 5:30 AM, followed by chanting from 5:55 AM to 6:00 AM. The idols of the deities are then uncovered, and from 6:15 AM onwards, devotees offer their tribute to the Gods.

The ritual of Kala Sandhi Theertham begins at 8:00 AM, followed by prayers at 11:00 AM, which conclude by noon. The evening prayer begins at 4:00 PM, followed by evening rituals at 6:00 PM, offerings at 7:30 PM, and the night prayer from 9:00 PM onwards. The following are some important festivals celebrated during different months of the Tamil calendar:

• Chithirai (April-May): Shri Brahma Utsav
• Vaigasi (May-June): Vasanthotsavam
• Aani (June-July): Shri Narasimha Swami Brahmotsavam, Kodai Utsav
• Aadi (July-August): Shri Gajendra Moksha, Shri Parthasarathy Jyesthabhishekam
• Aavani (August-September): Thiru Pavithra Utsav, Krishna Jayanti
• Purattasi (September-October): Navaratri
• Aippasi (October-November): Deepawali (Festival of Lights)
• Karthigai (November-December): Thir Karthigai Deepam, Thaila Kappu
• Margazhi (December-January): Margazhi Pagal Pathu, Sri Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Rau Pathu
• Thai (January-February): Laksharchana, Ratha Saptami
• Masi (February-March): Masi Magam Theppam, Dhavana Utsavam, Thepotsavam
• Panguni (March-April): Ram Navami, Panguni Uthiram

Eat, Drink, Collect

Visitors can collect Prasadam, a religious offering from the temple. The price of the offerings ranges from Rs. 150/- to Rs. 6000/-. The neighborhood of Triplicane, where the Parthasarathy Temple is located, is an ancient settlement. There are several age-old restaurants in the area that serve authentic local cuisines, as well as other dining options. Additionally, several private lodges in Triplicane offer accommodation at reasonable prices.

Best Time to Visit

The temple remains open year-round, and with various festivals taking place throughout the year, visitors can plan their trip to this historical temple according to their convenience without worrying about missing any major events.

How to Reach

The temple is easily accessible via the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and other modes of transport. It is situated about four kilometers from the Chennai railway station and 25 kilometers from the airport.

Chennai is well connected to other major destinations in India and neighboring towns and states, owing to its designation as one of India’s four major metropolitan cities.