Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Parthasarathy : As per Mahabharata Vishnu, in his avatar as Krishna was acting as charioteer for Arjuna, the Pandava prince during the war with Kauravas. Krishna did not take any weapons during the war. During the fight between Arjuna and Bhishma, Krishna was injured by the arrow from Bhishma. The mark in the image in the temple is believed to follow the legend. These scars are visible in Lord’s face even now. Based on this history, Perumal is praised as Parthasarathy – driver of Partha-Arjuna. The Ghee component in the Nivedhana is more to cure these wounds, it is said. No spices are used in the Nivedhanas to Lord. Praying to Lord Parthasarathy, people of unattractive complexion will understand the truth that beauty is not a constant one but may or will vanish one day due to age, illness or any other incidents in life.

Mother Vedavalli married Lord Ranganatha here: In days of yore, Sage Brugu performed penance here to have Lord as his son-in-law. He found a female child in the Alli flower in the Puskarini here. He took the child, named her Vedavalli. When she attained the marriageable age, Lord Ranganatha came to this place and married her. This wedding festival is celebrated in the temple on the 12th day-Dwadasi in full moon fortnight in the month of Masi-February-March. Vedavalli Thayar blesses the devotees from her own separate shrine. She does not come out in procession outside the temple but goes around the prakara only on Fridays and Uthiram star days.

Sage Madhuman got darshan of Lord Rama here: Madhuman, son of a rishi called Sashivadan, heard of the story of Rama from Gargeya rishi, upon whose advice, he came to Brindaranya. Here he performed penance for a darshan of Rama. The Lord obliged appearing with Sita Devi and his brothers Bharata, Shatrugna and Lakshmana. Unlike the Ranganatha in Srirangam, the Ranganatha in Tiruvallikeni does not face South, but East direction. But Rama here faces South probably to reassure Vibhishana that he is watching over him.

Saptharoma Maharishi got darshan of Gajendra Varadhar here: Gajendra Varadhar is said to have been worshipped by Saptharoma Maharishi in accordance with the Vaikhanasa Agamam. The Moolavar is worshipped as Sri Gajendra Varadaraja Swamy as he has given Moksha to Gajendra after saving him from the jaws of a crocodile. The Lord in heaven heard the appealing tone of his Bhakta Gajendra who was dragged into the waters by the crocodile and he rushed to the spot seating on Garuda, the king of birds, holding discuss in one hand and conch in another to save his Bhakta and threw the discus at the crocodile and saved him from death.

Scars in Lord’s face : In olden days, though the idol of the Lord was cast three times, the face of the Lord continues to have pimples. As the sculptor was worried about it, Venkatakrishnar appeared in his dream and convinced him that he (Krishna) has received injuries on the face by the arrows shot at him, at the Mahabharata war, he appeared so to remind them. The idol of Lord Parthasarathy is fine with all the other parts smooth except the face with its marks. Not only that, the toe next to the big toe in the left leg is without nail. The arrow shot by Bhishma to mark his surrender hit the nail of Krishna. At the hip of Parthasarathy there is a scar, it is said, which was formed as Yasodha tied a rope around the hip.

Sage Athri got darshan of Lord Narasimha: It is said that the Lord Narasimha Swamy appeared to Athri Maharishi being pleased with his tapas and at his request took his Abode in Brindaranya.

The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries and is classified as among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.The Lord had been praised by two of the earliest Alwars viz. Thirumazhisai Alwar and Peyalvar. Lord has been praised later by Thirumangai Mannan or Kaliyan, who is considered to be the last of the Alwars chronologically and his year of birth would appear to be 476 A.D. According to the era of Salivahana Saka. Saint Tirumangai Azhwar had sung the glory of Lord of this temple in his Mangalasasanam hymns. In 8th century it appears that the temple was restored during 1564 C.E. when new shrines were built. In later years, endowments of villages and gardens have enriched the temple. The temple witnessed a major expansion during the rule of the Vijayanagara kings like Sadasiva Raya, Sriranga Raya and Venkatapathi Raya II (16th century). Many sub shrines and pillared pavilions (mandapas) like the Thiruvaimozhi Mandapam were added. It was originally built by the Pallavas in the 8th century by king Narasimha Varman I subsequently expanded by Cholas and later by the Vijayanagara kings in the 15th century.