Our Geethacharyan!!

The Thiruvallikeni area in Chennai is known for its cultural feel. The Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane has a history of numerous years. This is my most favourite temple! I was growing up in the Chennai area and visit it often these years. 

 Geethacharyan is the name of Venkatakrishnan, the presiding deity in the temple. I have been to the Triplicane temple many times and have never regretted going there. The main idol is Venkatakrishnan, the charioteer of Arjuna in the kurukshethra war, in the story of Mahabharatha. He is depicted with a white mustache, which isn't common in other vishnu temples. The three idols in the main sanctum as to my knowledge are Rukmani thayar, Venkatakrishnan, and his brothers, including Balrama. Parthasarathy is the word for charioteer.

(The presiding deities of the temple, Rukmani,

Venkatakrishnan and Balrama. The utsava idols are also present.)

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During the Margazhi month, Venkatakrishnan would not have the mustache, infact, he would not wear any of the jewellery depicted in this picture. When I went on one of the Margazhi days, he was only wearing a simple Panchakacham and an Angavastram. (Note: if you go on Margazhi month to Triplicane it would be pretty crowded). The utsava statues in Triplicane are famous as most of them were built in the 1500s by a man who didn't want to be identified. He named himself Thelliyasinga Perumal Dasan. This was noted by a Vijaynagara king who expanded and added scriptures in the temple. The main utsava murthi is Parthasarathy. He has a scarred face, which was supposed to resemble his battle scars in the kurukshethra war.

The other utsavar is Vedavalli thayar, the wife of Mannatha. I will go in detail about this in the next paragraph. Manavala mamunigal is a special Acharya. He is known as the Acharya to the lord himself! The Manavala mamunigal utsavar in Triplicane is given a specific dated utsavam on November as per my knowledge.

(The utsavar of Manavala mamunigal. This photo was taken on 2015.)

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Mannatha, the name of Ranganatha, is in the Triplicane temple. He is known to have married Vedavalli thayar of the Temple. A note of Thirumangai azhwar says: ennai Aludaiyappanai oppavar illA mAdargal vAzhum mAda mAmayilat tiruvallikeni kandEnE. Ennai Aludaiyappanai is the direct translation of the Sanskrit word Mannatha. Oppavar illa madargal means the unparelled woman, which is mentioning Vedavalli thayar. The use Maadargal instead of Maadaa is the using of pujayam bahuvachanam, which says that using plural form shows respect.

 (Mannatha and his consorts. Vedavalli thayar will be portrayed in the next picture.)

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Many events happen in the Triplicane temple, especially on the Margazhi month.

The next topic I'm going to list is the Religious muths in Triplicane. There are many muths in Triplicane, they are Uttaradi muth, Ahobila muth, Yadugiri muth, Vanamamalai muth etc. There are 2 muths which pilgrims should definitely visit. The Ahobila muth, originating in Ahobilam, Andhra is a sacred spot for Malola Narasimhar, the main deity.

The Triplicane mutt was built over 100 years ago. The Vanamamalai muth originating in Vanamamalai, Tamilnadu, is also a big peaceful place. The pontiff of the muth, who is known as jeeyar, also visits it often.

(The utsava murthi of Vedavalli thayar, dressed up as Gaja Lakshmi Avatara.)

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Peyazhwars Avatara Sthala is believed to be Mylapore, but there are many reasons to conclude it is Triplicane! On an article made by Suganthy Krishnamachari, we can delve deep into many facts. Pillai Lokacharya, a Vaishnava scholar, says that Peyazhwar was born in Triplicane. While he was explaining thaniyan Bhootham sarasya mahathaahvya... He mentions that Peyazhwar was born in a lily flower in Triplicane. In his Ramanujaarya divya charithai, he says that Peyazhwars Avatara Sthala is infact Triplicane. But in Manavala mamunigals Upadesa Ratnamaalai, he says that Peyazhwar was born in Mayilai (Mylapore). Pillai Lokacharya expands Mayilai by quoting two Triplicane pasurams, and both talk about the sea. Interestingly, Triplicane is the place near the sea. There are many other reasons to conclude this, and they are noted in Suganthys article.

(A cutout picture of Peyazhwar of Triplicane.)

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The Thelliyasinga Perumal in the Triplicane temple is a very powerful idol. It is the Resplendent Narasimha form. His sannidhi is right behind the Parthasarathy sannidhi, and it is facing the opposite side (west). In Triplicane, pleased by Athi Maharishi, appeared on the Swathi star in Triplicane. The deity is depicted as Yoga Narasimhar inside the temple as I had seen it before, and the utsava murthi is unique. In other temples, Narasimha is depicted as the same on his utsavar, but in Triplicane, the utsava is in man form of Vishnu. He hold the mudras which shows his claws on the utsava murthi on the right hand. He has a seperate 10-day Bramhothsavam on Swathi star.

(A picture of Thelliyasinga Perumal on the Triplicane book written by The Hindu. You should really read it!!)

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I have drawn Thelliyasinga, and I'll put the picture below.

Thank you for reading, I will make more blogs!!!!!