Vande Brindavanante Maniganavilasatsoudaharmye Grhatye
Samrajatkairavinyas thadapuvi krunimatgopure saalarambe Anandagye
Vimane Muniganavinutam Parthasoodanja Ramam
Rangesam Srinrisimham Gajavaradam Srikshitibyam Samedam.
(Verse from Sri Parthasarathy Suprabhatam)
The lines capture the essence of this Divyadesam, one of the 108 places designated as the most sacred among the abodes of Sri Narayana. From the location to the Ananda Vimanam and the tank, everything about this charming and bustling place is special.
One of the two most ancient temples of the region, the other being Sri Kapaliswara, the Sri Parthasarathy temple is considered special among the Divyadesam shrines of Thondai Nadu. Brindaranya was the traditional name of this place, denoting the proliferation of the Tulsi plant. The water of the temple tank was covered by beautiful lily blossoms and hence the name Allikeni, Tiruallikeni.
The intense prayers and penance of seven sages (saptarishi) - Bhrigu, Marichi, Atri, Markandeya, Sumati, Saptorama and Jali - thousands of years ago, resulted in the arrival of the five forms of Mahavishnu, giving it the unique distinction of becoming five-in-one Divyadesam. Where else can you find, apart from Tiruvenkatavan, presiding deity of this temple, Sri Ranganatha (Srirangam), Sri Varadarajar (Kanchipuram), Chakravarti Tirumagan (what a beautiful reference to Sri Rama of Ayodhya), and Sri Yoga Nrisimhar (Ahobilam)?
Legend goes that King Sumati prayed to Sri Venkatesa that He should appear before him as the charioteer of Partha (Arjuna). The ruler was directed to go to Brindaranyam on the banks of Kairavini. There the king’s wish would be granted.
Veda Vyasa guided his disciple Athri to go to the same place to do his penance. Also he gave his disciple an image of the deity with a conch in his right hand, the left hand pointing to his feet, denoting beckoning the devotee to surrender. The sage carrying the Divya Mangala Vigraha reached the place where Sumati was already engaged in thapas.
Staging one of the numerous episodes of Divine Drama, Sri Mahalakshmi walked away in a huff and reached the place and sage Bhrigu found her in the form of a small child. He brought her up and Mannada (Sri Ranganatha) arrived as a handsome prince to claim Vedavalli’s hand in marriage. The Divine Couple were reunited. A separate shrine for Sri Vedavalli Thayar is a speciality. Swatantra Lakshmi is how the Sthalapuranam describes Her status.
During the six-month Balalayam period since January last, devotees had the rare opportunity of worshipping the Couple together, Serti darshan on a daily basis!
Maduman Maharishi, who was doing penance at Brindaranyam for darshan of Sri Rama with His consort and brothers, was blessed with darshan of the Prince of Ayodhya with Mythili, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugna.
Narasimha Swamy answered the prayers of sage Atri and appeared before him. On the devotee’s request, Prahlada’s saviour took position in a separate shrine facing West.
With an exclusive entrance and dazzling Dwajastambam, the Yoganrisimha shrine is a separate temple by itself. Utsavar goes by the name of Telliya Singar, the beautiful lion-faced God.
Sri Vishnu saving the elephant from the deadly jaws of a crocodile is a story well-known.
Saptharoma Maharishi worshipped Gajendra Varadaswamy, who is in a separate shrine, centre of a host of festivals, including, of course, Garuda Sevai. Sri Andal, the incarnation of Bhudevi, occupies a shrine and is celebrated with festivities.
Among the Acharyas, Sri Ramanuja (Udayavar) enjoys pride of place, said to be the incarnation of Sri Parthasarathy to propagate the message of the Bhagavad Gita. Paeyazhwar, Nammazhwar and Tirumangaimannan, all of whom offered Mangalasasanam to Sri Parthasarathy are enshrined and celebrated.
(Source: Sthala Puranam)
Photo: K.V. Srinivasan
Family affair
The sight of Moolavar, Sri Venkatakrishnan, in the company of his family – consort Rukmini, brothers elder Balarama, younger Sathyaki, Pradyumnan and Anirudhan, son and grandson respectively - is rare by itself. The arrangement also follows the episodes connected with the Krishna Avatar, it is said. Rukmini was carried off by Krishna when she was returning from a temple just before her wedding with Sisupala, arranged much against her wish. Sathyaki was in the driving seat while Balarama was at the rear, tackling the enemies in hot pursuit. Thus at the shrine, Balarama is on Thayar’s right. Sathyaki (Yuyudana) is on Parthasarathy’s left. Together they form the Panchavira (Five Heroes) group. Eroh Both youngsters are a step behind, a gesture of respect for the elders.
pachai karpoorama laMeesai
