5+1

Pancha Veera Kshetram – The Eternal Glory of Parthasarathy Swamy Temple, Triplicane

In the bustling heart of Chennai, where the city’s pulse beats fast with modern life, there stands a timeless sanctuary – Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple at Triplicane. This sacred shrine is hailed as a Pancha Veera Kshetram, the only temple where five heroic forms of Lord Vishnu are worshipped together. More than stone and sculpture, it is a living river of tradition, poetry, and faith.

The Five Veeras – Guardians of Dharma

Inside the temple, the soul encounters five forms of the Lord:

Parthasarathy Perumal – Krishna as Arjuna’s divine charioteer. His face bears the scars of the Mahabharata war, a rare and moving portrayal of a Lord who chooses to share the burdens of His devotees. He is known for the veera with his mustache. 

Yoga Narasimha – The lion-man seated in yogic calm, ferocity contained in meditation.

Ranganatha (Venkatakrishnan) – Reclining on Adisesha, the cosmic protector who offers rest to the weary.

Rama – The ideal king, with Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, and Hanuman, making this a rare family shrine of the Ramayana.

Varadaraja Perumal – The granter of boons, embodying benevolence and grace.

Together, these five veeras are a spiritual panorama – courage, compassion, guidance, rest, and blessings, all under one sacred roof.

Āṇḍāḷ’s Shrine – The Soul of Devotion

No account of this temple is complete without Āṇḍāḷ, the only woman among the twelve Āḻvārs. Her shrine here glows with love and surrender, echoing her immortal Tiruppāvai. Each Margazhi dawn, her verses resound in the temple streets, awakening both city and soul. She reminds every devotee that devotion is not only heroic but also tender – the soul’s yearning for union with the Divine.

Poetry and Living Tradition

The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, celebrated in the Nālāyira Divya Prabandham by saints like Pey Āḻvār and Tirumangai Āḻvār. During festivals, the air fills with these hymns, woven into daily worship like a living necklace of song.

Festivals that Bind the City

The Brahmotsavam in April–May and the grand Vaikunta Ekadasi are the lifeblood of Triplicane. The temple car, pulled by countless hands along the Mada streets, becomes a symbol of Chennai’s unity in devotion. The temple tank, Kairavini Pushkarini, reflects gopurams and lamps, turning water into poetry.

To this day, the temple remains Chennai’s spiritual heart. The scent of jasmine garlands, the echo of conches, the glow of oil lamps, and the cadence of Tamil hymns turn every visit into an experience of eternity.

Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple

Location: Triplicane, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Deities: Five forms of Vishnu – Parthasarathy, Yoga Narasimha, Ranganatha, Rama, Varadaraja

Special Shrine: Āṇḍāḷ, the only female Āḻvār

Built by: Pallavas (8th century CE), expanded by Cholas, Vijayanagar kings, Nayaks

Significance: One of the 108 Divya Desams, praised in the Divya Prabandham

Temple Tank: Kairavini Pushkarini

Major Festivals: Brahmotsavam (April–May), Vaikunta Ekadasi, Margazhi celebrations with Tiruppāvai

To stand before Parthasarathy Swamy is to feel the assurance of the Lord who guided Arjuna – still guiding every soul through the battles of life. With the Pancha Veeras as guardians, and Āṇḍāḷ as the tender voice of divine love, this temple is Chennai’s eternal jewel, where history, devotion, and poetry live forever.

Granthamala. Synopsis orderly.

 The Rāmānuja Granthamālā is a collection of the principal works of Śrī Rāmānuja (1017–1137 CE), the great Ācārya of the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition. These works collectively establish and explain Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta—its philosophy, theology, and practice. A synopsis of the main works is as follows:

1. Śrībhāṣya

Nature: Commentary on the Brahmasūtras of Bādarāyaṇa.

Content: Establishes Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta as a qualified non-dual system.

Highlights:

Refutes Advaita and other rival schools.

Proves Brahman as Nārāyaṇa with infinite auspicious attributes (kalyāṇa guṇas).

Stresses śeṣatva (servitude) and prapatti (surrender) as the means to liberation.

2. Gītābhāṣya

Nature: Commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā.

Content: Practical guide for spiritual life.

Highlights:

Reconciles karma, jñāna, and bhakti yogas.

Advocates prapatti as a simple, universal path for all.

Interprets Gītā as a dialogue of grace and surrender.

3. Vedārtha Saṅgraha

Nature: Independent treatise.

Content: A systematic exposition of Upaniṣadic philosophy.

Highlights:

Shows how the Upaniṣads consistently affirm a personal Brahman (Nārāyaṇa).

Resolves apparent contradictions in Vedāntic statements.

Lays foundation for Viśiṣṭādvaita hermeneutics.

4. Vedānta Saṅgraha / Vedānta Dīpa (attributed)

Shorter works explaining Vedāntic concepts in summary fashion.

5. Vedānta Sara

Nature: A concise manual.

Content: Abstract of Vedānta principles for beginners.

6. Śaraṇāgati Gadyam

Nature: Prose hymn.

Content: Rāmānuja’s direct prayer of surrender at Śrī Raṅgam.

Highlights: Models prapatti as heartfelt, unconditional surrender to Śrīman Nārāyaṇa and Śrī Mahālakṣmī.

7. Śrīraṅga Gadyam

Nature: Prose hymn.

Content: Prayer to Lord Raṅganātha for eternal service.

Highlights: Overflow of devotion and yearning for liberation.

8. Vaikuṇṭha Gadyam

Nature: Visionary hymn.

Content: Describes Vaikuṇṭha, the supreme abode, in great detail.

Highlights: A theological picture of the bliss of service to the Lord.

9. Nitya Grantham

Nature: Manual of daily worship.

Content: Prescribes the Śrī Vaiṣṇava nityakarma—pujā, prayers, and discipline.

Highlights: Ensures practical integration of philosophy into life.

10. Commentaries (Vārtikas / Glosses)

On minor Upaniṣads and stotras.

Clarify ritual and philosophical points for disciples.

Overall Themes

Philosophy: Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta—Brahman as Nārāyaṇa with body–soul relation to the universe.

Practice: Bhakti and Prapatti as soteriological paths.

Devotion: Loving surrender as the soul’s natural state.

Community: Integration of all seekers, regardless of caste or status, into the fold of Śrī Vaiṣṇava dharma.

In short, the Rāmānuja Granthamālā unites deep Vedāntic philosophy, devotional outpourings, and practical guidance into a complete system of spiritual life.

Householder.

 Yudhishthira tells the sages, who want to go to the forest with the Pandavas, that while he likes the company of learned men, he does not want them to suffer in the forest. In the Mahabharata, we find Vidura advising Dhritarashtra to always seek the company of the learned. Those with knowledge will give proper and timely advice to those they are with. Yudhishthira tells the sages that he does not desire wealth for himself, said Kidambi Narayanan in a discourse. But wealth is necessary if he is to take care of the interests of the sages, who want to accompany him to the forest. A householder has the important duty of having to provide for sanyasis. A sanyasi should always have darbha grass, good water and a proper place to carry out his duties. A householder must ensure that sages are given whatever they need.

In addition, a grihastha must provide water for the thirsty, a resting place for those who are tired, and food for the hungry. Unfortunately, Yudhishthira now has nothing. He has been stripped of all his possessions. How then can he take care of the sadhus, if they insist on following him? That is his worry. Every man should treat guests, relatives and members of his family with respect. Even when one cooks food, one must never do it with the thought that one is preparing food for oneself. One must think of how to share the food with those who lack the means to have a hearty meal. Suppose one comes across a man who is a total stranger. If one finds him tired after a long journey, one should immediately give him food. This too is the duty of a householder. Yudhishthira tells sage Saunaka that the highest dharma is for a man to carry out all the duties of a householder without fail. Although Yudhishthira is knowledgeable, he seeks Saunaka’s opinion on this.