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Sri Parthasarathi Temple

The Parthasarathi Temple was built in the 8th century by the Pallava kings. Additions were later made by the Chola kings and later by the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century. This temple is one of the 108 main Vishnu Divya Desam temples.

The presiding Deity, Parthasarathi, is a form of Lord Krishna. During the battle of Kurukshetra, when the Bhagavad-gita was spoken, Lord Krishna became the chariot driver (sarathi) of Arjuna (Partha). The Deity here is named after that form of Krishna. There is also a deity of Vedavalli Ammai, the consort of Parthasarathi.

The presiding Deity of the temple, Sri Parthasarathi (Venkatakrishna Swami) is also known as Gitacarya. Sri Parthasarathi holds a conch in His right hand and His left hand is in jnana-mudra. Sri Rukmini is on His right, and Satyaki is on His left. Balarama is to the right of Rukmini. Krishna's son Pradyumna and His grandson Aniruddha are on the northern side of the altar, facing south. There is a sword on the left side on the Deity that represents the sword of knowledge. The processional (utsava) Deity of Parthasarathi has arrow marks on His face which represents the wounds caused by Bhisma in the battle of Kurukshetra. The impressive vimana (tower) over the cental shrine is partially covered with gold and is called Ananda Vimana.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Ranganatha, who is lying on Adi Sesa facing east with Lord Brahma on a lotus coming out from His naval. Lord Ranganatha is also known as Lord Mannatha, which was the name given to Him by His divine consort, Vedavalli Thayar (Mahalaksmi). In the same shrine are Deities of Sri Narasimha and Sri Varaha.

There are Deities of Yoga Narasimha and the utsava Narasimha Deity, worshiped as Alagia Singar (beautiful lion), in the western part of the temple. There is an altar dedicated to Sri Rama (Sri Rama Sannidhi), Sita, Bharata, Satrughna, and Laksmana. There is also a Deity of Sri Varaha in the temple and a shrine dedicated to Sri Andal.

There is an altar dedicated to Sri Gajendra varadar, the form of Vishnu who rescued Gajendra the elephant when his leg was caught by a crocodile. The Deity holds a sankha (conch) and cakra (disc) and is ever ready to assist His sincere devotee.

It is said that taking bath in the temple tank known as Karveni will give all happiness and prosperity. There is a festival called Teppam in February-March in which the Deities are seated on a beautifully decorated illuminated teppan (boat) and taken round the temple tank.

Non-Hindus are not allowed in the temple, but ISKCON devotees and converted Hindus can enter. Waiting in line to see the Deity takes about a half-hour on a normal day. You can, however, buy a special darsana ticket to by-pass the line. This temple has good mahaprasada.

The temple is located in the Triplicane area of town. It's a little hard to find. Most people know where it is, but even three blocks away they cannot easily explain how to get there. It is about three blocks east of Triplicane High Rd near Besant Rd.

 

Kapaliswaram Temple

Kapaliswaram Temple is an ancient Siva temple with an intricately carved towering gopuram in the Mylapore area. The temple has a large Siva - linga and a deity of Subrahmanya (Kartikeya).

In the courtyard of the temple is a shrine dedicated to the consort of Lord Siva, Parvati, in the form of a peahen worshipping a linga. This commemorates when Parvati allowed her attention to be distracted from Siva when she saw a peacock dancing beautifully at a distance. Siva became angry because of this and cursed her to become a peahen. Parvati became a peahen and came to Kapalinagar (present day Mylapore) and started to do rigorous austerities to please Lord Siva in the form of a mayil (peahen). After many years she became successful and rejoined Lord Siva. Thereafter this area became known as Mayilapore or Mylapore.


In 1566 the original temple was destroyed by the portuguese. The present temple was built in the l6th century by the Vijayanagara kings. The gopuram (tower) is 37m (120 ft) high. Non-Hindus are not allowed in the inner sanctum. Important festivals are the boat festival called Tai Pusham (Jan/Feb) and Brahmotsava (March/April), which celebrates the marriage of Siva and Parvati. The temple is located in the southern suburb of Madras off Kutchery Rd in the Mylapore area.

 

ISKCON Temple

It is located at Burkit Road, T.Nagar. The Deities here are Rukmini-Krishna. Satyabhama, one of the eight main wives of Krishna, is also on the altar. There are also Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Lady Subhadra, and Gaura-Nitai. It is a small place with no overnight guest facilties.


To get to the ISKCON temple you can get the11 A bus from Mount Road or any bus to Nagar Terminal in the south central part of the city. The temple is a ten-minute walk from the bus station on Burkit Rd. Once you are in the area most people know where the Hare Krishna temple is located. It is near the Sharadha Vidyalaya Girls School.

 

Nearby Chennai Tiruneermalai

There is a Divya Desam temple here called the Sri Ranganatha Perumal Temple. Brahmanda Purana recognizes this place as one of the eight svayam vyakta ksetras, or holy places where Lord Vishnu manifested Himself. The Lord is seen in four postures here: Neervannan- standing, Lord Narasimha-sitting, Lord Ranganatha- lying down, and Lord Trivikrama-walking.


Lord Ranganatha, Lord Narasimha (Sri Santa Narasimha), and Lord Trivi krama (Ulagalanda Perumal) are all in the temple at the top of the hill. You have to climb 250 steps to reach this temple. The main Deity at the top of the hill is Sri Ranganatha, who is lying on Adi Sesa. His consort is Ranganayaki Thayar.


The Neervanna Perumal Temple is at the foot of the hill. The utsava vigraha of Sri Ranganatha is in the Neervanna Temple. There is a shrine for Valmiki on the hillside. Tiruneermalai is about 10 km from Madras.

 

Tiruvallur

There is a Vishnu Divya Desam temple here called Sri Veeraraghava Swami Temple. The Deity of Veeraghava is Lord Vishnu lying on Adi Sesa, with Lord Brahma coming from His navel. The temple has a huge intricately carved gopuram. This temple is about 5 km north of the railway station.


It is believed that Lord Vishnu killed the demons Madhu and Kaitabha here at Veeksharanya Ksetram. This place is known as Punya-vrata Ksetram because it is believed whatever punya (good deeds) one does here is multiplied many times.

There is a bathing tank here called Hridaya-tapa-nasini-tirtham, which is said to cure all one's illnesses. The Waters of the Ganges are supposed to flow into this tank on Amavasya, the new moon day in the month of January.


Tiruvallur is 42 km from Madras, on the railway line between Madras and Arkonam (Arakkonam

 

Tiruttani

There is a hilltop temple here dedicated to Subramanya, which is reached by climbing 365 steps. It is said to be the place where Subramanya married Valli, one of his two consorts. There are over 100 dharamsalas for pilgrims here, as this temple is popular. Tiruttani is on the way between Madras and Tirupati, 70 km from Madras.

 

Thiruvidaventhai (Tiruvadantai)

One of the Divya Desam temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Sri Nritya Kalyana Perumal, is here. The main Deity is nine feet tall and is called Sri Laksmi Adi Varaha. The left foot of Varaha is raised up to the knee and is placed on the head of Adi Sesa. The Lord's consort, Bhumidevi, is on the lord's thigh. Lord Varaha wears a garland made from 108 shalagram-shilas. There is a big festival here on Vaikuntha Ekadasi. This temple is about 40 km south Madras, going towards Mahabalipuram (10 km north).

 

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