Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai

This article is about the temple in Chennai. For the temple in Aranmula, Kerala, see Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.

Parthasarathy Perumal Temple
Thiruvallikēñi Venkatakrishna Parathasarathy Perumal Thirukoil
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictChennai
DeitySri Venkatakrishnan (Moolavar),
Sri Parthasarathy (Urchavar)
Sri Vedavalli Thaayar
FestivalsPanguni Serthi, Pallava Utsavam, Ramanujar Utsavam, Vaikunda Ekadashi, Every Friday Sri Vedavalli Thayar Purappadu
Location
LocationThiruvallikeni
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai is located in Chennai
Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai
Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates13°03′14″N 80°16′36″E / 13.05395°N 80.27675°E / 13.05395; 80.27675
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
CreatorPallavas[1]
Completed6th century AD[1]
Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

The Parthasarathy Temple is a 6th-century Hindu Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Vishnu in Chennai, India. Located in the neighbourhood of Thiruvallikeni, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries CE and is classified as among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.[2] The name 'Parthasarathy' means the 'charioteer of Arjuna', referring to Krishna's role as a charioteer to Arjuna in the epic Mahabharata.

It was originally built by the Pallavas in the 6th century[3] by king Narasimhavarman I. The temple has icons of five forms of Vishnu: Yoga Narasimha, Rama, Gajendra Varadaraja, Ranganatha, and Krishna as Parthasarathy.[4] The temple is one of the oldest structures in Chennai.[5][6][7][8][9] There are shrines for Vedavalli Thayar, Ranganatha, Rama, Gajendra Varadar, Narasimha, Andal, Hanuman, Alvars, Ramanuja, Swami Manavala Mamunigal and Vedanthachariar. The temple subscribes to Vaikhanasa agama and follows Tenkalai tradition. There are separate entrances and dhvajastambhas for the Parthasarathy and Yoga Narasimha temples. The gopuram (towers) and mandapas (pillars) are decorated with elaborate carvings,[9] a standard feature of South Indian Temple Architecture.

  1. ^ a b Silas 2007, p. 114
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference kamath was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Sullivan 1997, p. 126
  4. ^ Let's Go India & Nepal 8th Ed By Jane Yang, Let's Go, Inc., Inc. Let's Go
  5. ^ de Bruyn 2010, p. 320
  6. ^ Kamath 2000, p. 275
  7. ^ K.V.Raman (7 May 2002). "Unique Temple". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 July 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  8. ^ Lalithasai (18 December 2011). "Religious facets of Thirumayilai, Thiruvallikeni". The Hindu, Downtown, Chennai. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Official Website". Parthasarathy Temple, Official Website. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2012.