It was originally built by the Pallavas in the 8th century by king Narasimhavarman I. The temple has icons of five forms of Vishnu: Narasimha, Rama, Gajendra Varadaraja, Ranganatha and Krishna. The temple is one of the oldest structures in Chennai. There are shrines for Vedavalli Thayar, Ranganatha, Rama, Gajendra Varadaraja, Narasimha, Andal, Hanuman, Alvars, Ramanuja, Swami Manavala Mamunigal and Vedanthachariar. The temple subscribes to Vaikhanasa agama and follows Thenkalai tradition. There are separate entrances for the Krishna and Narasimha temples. The gopuram (towers) and mandapas (pillars) are decorated with elaborate carvings, a standard feature of South Indian Temple Architecture.
As per Hindu legend, Saptarishis, the seven sages worshipped five deities Panchaveeras, namely, Venkata Krishnaswamy, Rukmini, Satyaki, Balarama, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. As per Mahabharatha, 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. The place is called Allikeni, meaning a pond of lily as it is believed that historically the place was full of lily ponds. The place is the only place where the presiding deity is sported with a mustache. As per another legend, the place was once a Tulsi forest. A king named Sumati wanted to see Vishnu in the form of Parthasarathi and prayed at Srinivasa temple in Tirupathi. Srinivasa directed the king to visit the temple here built by sage Atreya and worshipped with another sage called Sumati.
The Parthasarathy Swamy Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, is said to have been renovated by a King of Pallava dynasty. "Brindaranya" is the traditional Puranic name of Thiru-Alli-Keni now known as Thiruvallikeni or modern Triplicane. It is said that for at least five thousand years, it has been a resting place for pilgrims who had come down from Thirupathy to have a bath in the sea on the days of Solar and Lunar Eclipses and on other auspicious days it being in a direct line to Thirupathy, Thiruthani and Trivellore and the route being free from swamps.
According to Brahmanda Puranam, the five Deities in the temple are said to have been worshipped by the Saptah Rishis viz. Bhrigu, Manchi, Atri, Markandeya, Sumathi, Saptharoma and Jabali and also have been praised by two of the earliest Alwars viz. Thirumazhisai Alwar, Peyalwar and later on 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.
The presiding Deity of this temple Sri Venkatakrishna Swami also known as "GEETHACHARYA". According to Brahmanda purana, King Sumathy prayed Lord Thiruvengada of the Seven Hills to give him darshan in the form of the Charioteer (SARATHY) to PARTHA during the MAHABHARATHA WAR and rendering GEETHA. Lord Thiruvengada appeared in his dream and bade him to go to "BRINDARANYA" where he would give him Darshan in the form he wished. Meanwhile, Athreya Maharishi requested his Acharya Vedavyasa to mention to him the place fit for doing Thapas and he was directed by his Acharya to go to Brindaranya on the banks of the Kairavani Theertham overgrown with Thulasi plants and where king Sumathy was doing Thapas. Saying so, Vedavyasa gave Athreya a Divya-Mangala Vigraha with a conch in his right hand and Gnana Mudra in the left hand pointing to HIS HOLY FEET signifying the famous Charama Sloka of the Bhagavat Geetha:-
"Sarva Dharman Parithyajya Mamekam Saranam Vraja Ahamthwa Sarwa Papebhyo Mokshayishyami Ma Suchaha" (18-66):
This quintessence of the Geetha is rendered into English by Sir Edwin Amold thus:-
"And let go those Rites and writ duties! Fly to Me alone!
Make Me thy single refuge! I will free Thy soul from all its sins! Be of good cheer!"
Accordingly, Athreya Maharishi reached the Ashramam of Sumathy and narrated to him in detail, the circumstances that led him to go there. Sumathy was pleased with the Divya Mangala image of Sri Parthasarathy Swamy in accordance with the desire and welcomed Athreya. He celebrated the Chaitrotsavam according to Vaikanasa Agama and worshipped him. The central figure enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum is being worsipped as "SRI VENKATAKRISHNA SWAMY". Sri Rukmani Thayar and Satyaki, his younger brother, are installed on his right and left side respectively. His elder brother Balarama is seen on the right side of Rukmani Thayar facing north and his son Prathyumnan and his grandson Anirudhan are seen on the northern side of the Garbagraha facing south. These five warriors (Pancha Veeral) are so placed in these positions as we now worship them to keep in conformity with some incidents that took place in their life-time. Still more grandeur and inspiring is the bewitching and ever smiling UTHSAVAR Deity – Sri Parthasarathy Swami, with marks in the face caused by Bheeshma's arrows during the Maha Bharatha War. The Thilagam set with diamonds with a Safire in the centre resembles the full moon in the crystal clear blue sky.
The temple had internal conflict from the 1750s till the end of the century between the two subsects of Vaishnavism, namely Thenkalai and Vadagalai] The two sects were grounded over the right of reciting each of their own version of concluding verses in the temple. A petition was received by the ruling British government to decide the religious dispute. English records mention petition during the year 1754 filed by local inhabitants and merchants seeking to resolve the dispute. They suggested that the Tenkalai Brahmins could recite their Srisailesadayaptram in the Parthasarathi shrine, while the Vadakalai Brahmins could recite their Ramanujadayapatram in the Telinga Singar shrine. The council agreed that the suggestion in the petition be accepted and publicly announced. There were further petitions in 1780 from the Tenkalai Brahmins that since the temple was built, recitals were made only in Srisailesadayaptram, which should continue. It also asserted that the trustee Manali Muthukrishna Mudali favoured Vadakalai resulting in the issue. While both the sects were claiming theirs should be the practice followed in the temple, the English administrators in India has deep rooted belief that old ways were the only solution to preserve tranquility. The Tenkalai sect had the sanction of antiquity and custom resulting in Tenkalai gaining precedence.
The bearers at the temple were traditionally fishermen of Triplicane. During the temple festivities, they carry the festival idol in their sturdy shoulders in an atmosphere of wine and toddy shops.[28] They bargained for additional rights in the temple in 1928, which eventually ended their ties with the temple.[28]
Bharathiar, the legendary Tamil poet and independence activist was struck by an elephant at the temple, whom he used to feed regularly. Although he survived the incident, a few months later his health deteriorated and he died.
Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Hindu Monk is a devotee of Parthasarathy. In one of his letters in the year 1893 to his disciple Alasinga, he writes 'Take a bow before Lord Parthasarathy of Thiruvallikeni and give an undertaking before Him of a great sacrifice, one of a whole life for the poor, the lowly and the oppressed - for whom Lord Parthasarathy comes from time to time and whom he loves above all.' You can find this letter to his disciple inscribed in one of the walls at temple corridor
rare facts.
There is a mark on the utsava moorthy face that is said to be that from the strike received from Bhishma’s arrows intended for Arjuna.
Sannadhis
Venkatakrishna
Vedavalli thayaar
Rama with Sita, Lakshmana, Bharat, Shatrugan and Hanuman
Ranganathar
Gajendra Varadhan
Narasimhar
Aandal
Garuda
Vinayagar
Alavandar
Thirukacchi Nambi
Vedanta Desikar
Ramanujar
Manavala mamunigal
Anjaneya
Keseva
Madhava
Anandan
Thirumazhisai alwar
Embar
Nathamuni
Poigai alwar
Bhootatalwar
Pattarbhiran
Thirupan
Thondarpadi
Madhurakavi
Nathamuni
Kaliyan
Vishwaksenar
The Parthasarathy Swamy temple in Tiruvallikeni is the only Divya Desam among the 108 strictly within Chennai city limits. The other two Divya Desams close to Chennai are the Nityakalyana Perumal temple in Thiruvidanthai and the Ranganatha Swami temple in Thiruneermalai (both in Kanchipuram District).
The Azhwars have sung Tamil verses (Pasurams) about all the deities enshrined in this temple namely Narasimha, Parthasarathy, Gajendra Varada, Ranganatha and Rama. This is rare as usually only the main deity is praised.
The standing, seated and reclining poses of Vishnu are seen in this temple.
There are two dwajastambham in this temple - one on the East in front of the Venkatakrishnan sanctum and the other on the West in front of the Narasimha sanctum.
The main image of Venkatakrishnan is usually seen with a big white moustache. On only the four days preceding Vaikunta Ekadasi in the month of Margazhi, can the deity be seen without the moustache. On these four days, Venkatakrishnan wears simple attire.
The image of Venkatakrishnan is two armed, holding the Shankha or conch in the right hand and the left hand in varada hasta (boon-conferring pose). It is noteworthy that the deity does not hold the Chakra or discus.
Goddess Vedavalli Thayar’s processions are only inside the temple and this deity never comes out of the temple premises.
In the Ranganatha sanctum, there is an image of Varaha near the head of Ranganatha and Narasimha near the feet.
The main image of Gajendra Varadar is seen riding on Garuda. This is indeed unique.
Three separate Kalyana Utsavams are celebrated here - two for Ranganatha and Vedavalli Thayar and one for Parthasarathy and Andal. In addition, on Adi Puram day, Andal is seen with Parthasarathy.
The bells in the sanctum for Yoga Narasimha do not have tongues as this would disturb the Yogic state of the deity.
One of the most ancient inscriptions discovered in the city of Chennai is in the Parthasarathy Swamy temple. It belongs to the reign of the Pallava king Dantivarman of the 9th century A.D.
Swami Vivekananda's letter to Azhagiya Singar of Thiruvallikeni dated 1893 has been inscribed near the Narasimha shrine. In it he praises Parthasarathi Swami.
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