Tirupullani Temple

While the Lord has innumerable forms and names, the most widely popular are the Dasavathara – the Ten forms. It is impossible to condense the incarnations the Lord has taken but these Ten forms largely narrate the human evolution. From the form of a living creature in the oceans and seas, the Lord’s forms take shape one after the other. The seventh form of the Lord in this series is that of a human. It is widely believed that the entire script around he abduction of Goddess Sita and the subsequent killing the Demon King Ravana is actually a byproduct, for the Lord took this incarnation only to tell mankind how a person should lead his/her Life. The incarnation is more about upholding values, be it as a faithful son for a Father or a dutiful son of a Mother, loving and caring Brother and a doting husband/father who lives by the word of Dharma. A role where the Lord shows the world what friendship is, how people of all castes or creeds are one and the same and how animals, be it a monkey or a squirrel are to be loved and cared for.

Lord Rama’s righteousness, values and His entire story can not be summarised even in a week long Upanyasa (Discourse) on Ramayana, and obviously not in this article. Every time we hear the Ramayana’s narration from someone, we learn something new about the Epic. Here’s one such interesting information that you may already know, or perhaps not. 

King Dasaratha – he was named such because he could control Ten Rathas at a time, such was his valour and a famous ruler of Ikshvaku’s Kshatriya clan of the Surya dynasty. All said and done, he wasn’t blessed with a Child which was one of his biggest qualms. He descended all the way to Tirupullani which houses the “Adhi Jagannatha Swamy” shrine. The Lord is seen here in a seated position with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi alongside. The King prayed the Lord to bless him with a son who had every ideal which was ever bestowed upon any human being. The Lord said there’s nothing as such created until now and therefore He shall Himself be born to the King and shall bless the world. After performing the Ashwamedha Yagna, the King and his three wives were blessed with not one but Four children. 

Many years later, when Lord Sri Rama was about to cross the mighty ocean to secure Goddess Sita from Lanka, he is said to have prayed to the deity here to seek his blessings for a successful victory across the border and shore. This is perhaps the only such shrine in the world at any Hindu temple where one can see Lord Sri Rama in a reclined posture, (usually connoted with Lord Sri Ranganatha who is seen reclined on the celestial Snake, Adisesha). The Lord is seen lying on the holy darba grass along with Lakshmana, Hanuman, The Sea God and Sea Goddess, Sugriva and the 36,000 devathas. 

A few kilo metres from here is the exact place where the Lord is said to have embarked his journey to Lanka. The locals say that until a few years back, they have seen the so-called floating stones which was used by the Lord to cross the Sea, although the general public cannot access this area any more. 

If you haven’t visited Tirupullani yet, do mark it in your Places-To-Visit in 2019. Among the 106 Divya Desam shrines on Earth (The Celestial Ocean and the Vaikunta being the other two) – places sung by Sri Vaishnavite Azhwars in praise of the Lord Sriman Narayana, the temple is about 20 kms from Ramanathapuram and a two-three hour drive by road from Madurai which also houses a large Airport. Your Sarathy will be able to arrange a trip for you. Soon.

Unique Divya Desam

Among the 106 Divya Desams on Earth, the other two being the Celestial Ocean – Parkadal and the Lord’s eternal abode, Sri Vaikuntam, Sri Parthasarathy Temple at Triplicane (Chennai) has a few unique features, which I would like to mention here.

The main deity is Lord Sri Parthasarathy facing the sea in the East. Lord Krishna, in his 9^thAvatar came to the Earth to protect Dharma (righteousness). 

When it was decided that the Kauravas will wage war against the Pandavas who were denied their rightful share of running the country, Kaurava King Duryodhana (son of Drithirashtra) went to Lord Krishna to seek his support. Around the same time, Pandava King Dharmaraja (Yudhishtra) also came to visit the Lord. Duryodhana admonished Dharma and said he was the elder brother between the two and also the ruling king so he would first ask what he wants from Lord Krishna. Also, he sat near the head of Lord Krishna as He was sleeping. When Krishna woke up, he first saw Dharma and enquired about him, which further irked Duryodhana and told Krishna that he came before Dharma and he must be allowed first to ask what he wanted for the War, which Krishna smilingly obliged. Duryodhana asked Krishna all the ammunition that ever existed, horses, elephants, swords et al which Krishna agreed to give away to him. Duryodhana laughed wickedly at Dharma and left the place. 

Krishna asked Dharma that he had nothing to part anymore to which Dharma said that he just needed the Lord to be with them in the War. The Utsavar Idol at Sri Parthasarathy Temple which has been around for centuries depict the arrow marks and injuries on the Lord’s face which can be seen till date at the temple. And thus, we know who won the war & how. This conversation has a larger life meaning. Even though we may have everything in life, money, material wealth, houses, cars, clothes and what not, ultimately, we all need His Grace and that’s what matters at the end of the day. 

At this temple, Sri Parthasarathy is in standing form and within the main prakaram (Sannidhi), one can also see Lord Rama and Sri Ranganatha in reclining form. Just outside this sannidhi, is another deity in the form of Sri Varadaraja Swamy, atop his celestial vahana, the Garuda (the celestial Eagle). The Lord here is also known as “Nitya Garuda Perumal” – always on Garuda Vahana ready for his ardent devotees. Adjoining this Sannidhi is Lord Sri Narasimha in Yoga form known as “Yoga Narasimha”. 

Also, this is one of the very few temples where Lord Sri Rama is with all his three brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrugna and Goddess Sita Devi by his side. Lord Hanuman who is usually by His side, is facing the Lord about 15 feet away, another rarity across Sri Rama Temples or Divya Desams. One can also find the Dashavatara forms of Sriman Narayana on the Pillars behind the main Sannidhi. Needless, this is what we see and observe when we visit the temple. Perhaps there are many other gems that could be unearthed every time we visit.

Lord Narasimha is from the Krita Yuga, Lord Rama is from Tretha Yuga and Lord Parthasarathy is from Dwapara Yuga as Krishna Avatara. Sri Ranganatha in the reclining form is the way the Lord Resides at Sri Vaikuntam and Lord Varadaraja is the way the Lord comes to his devotee’s rescue. Fascinating indeed – this is perhaps the only Divya Desam where the Lord can be seen on all forms in which He has appeared across Yugas and at his celestial abode. 

Runa Vimochana Sloka

This shloka is in the praise of Lord Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu. Daily chanting of this sloka is said to absolve one's sins.

Here is the link of Parikkal Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple.

"Shri Runa Vimochana Nrusimha Stotram with meaning"

1) Devatha kaarya sidhyartham,

    Sabha sthambha samudbhavam,

    Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

For the purpose of completion of the need of the devas, You appeared from a pillar in a palace,Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts.

2) Lakshmya alingtha vamaangam,

    Bhakthaanaam vara daayakam,

    Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

Goddess Lakshmi embraces your left side, And you give boons to your devotees, Oh! narasimha who is a great warrior, 

I salute you to get rid of my debts.

3) Aantramaalaadaram shankha chakraabja Yudha dharinam,

Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

God who wears the inner part of your enemy as garland, God who holds conch wheel , lotus and other weapons, Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts.

4) Smaranaath sarva paapagnam,

    Khadraja visha naasanam,

    Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

God whose very thought kills all sins, God who destroys poison of all snakes, Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts. 

5) Simhanaadena mahatha,

    Digdanthi bhayanaasanam,

    Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

God of a terrible lion like roar, Who removes fear of elephants, which guard all directions, Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts.

6) Prahlaada varadam sreesam,

    Daithyeshwara vidaarinam,

    Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

God who was kind to prahlada, The lord of Lakshmi and he who ripped apart the king of demons, Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts.

7) Krooragrahai peedithaanaam,

Bhakthaanaam abhaya pradham,

Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

God who gives freedom from fear to devotees, Who are being troubled by cruel planets, Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts.

8) Veda vedaantha yagnesam,

brahma rudraadhi vanditham,

Sri nrusimham mahaaveeram namaami runa mukthaye.

MEANING:

God who is the lord of Vedas, Vedantha and Sacrifices, Who is worshipped by Brahma, Rudra and others, Oh! Narasimha who is a great warrior, I salute you to get rid of my debts.

9) YA IDAM PATATHE NITHYAM,

RUNA VIMOCHANA SAMHITHAM,

ANRUNEE JAAYAATHE SADHYO DHANAM, SEEGRAMAVAAPNUYAATH.

MEANING:

HE WHO READS DAILY THIS PRAYER FOR GETTING RID OF HIS DEBTS, WOULD SURELY SOON EARN LOT OF MONEY AND BE DEBTLESS

Sri Parthasarathy Temple

Mahabharatha, the epic is not just another story. Some call it a myth, some a work of fiction. Rather, it is a guide to the human race on how to lead a life to eventually reach the Lord’s feet and enable us to attain Moksha. Sriman Narayana took his 9^thincarnation in the previous Dwapara Yuga as Krishna and His life is a very interesting story, right from his birth on the supposedly inauspicious Ashtami night all the way up to the Epic War – Maha Bharatha. The Lord gives us various life learnings in this incarnation and they are valuable to everything we do in our daily lives. 

When it was decided that the Kauravas, who had kept the Pandavas away from taking over the Kingdom and were even forced to live in hiding for a year, both the teams reached out to Lord Krishna for support and help them win respectively. Duryodhana, the Kaurava King wanted all weapons, manpower, animals like horses, elephants and so on and all resources that were available to which the Lord obliged. Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Padavas sought Him to be by their side to which the Lord smiled. The essence of this, is that no matter what we have in our lives, we finally need the guidance and blessings of the Lord with us always. 

In the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Lord Krishna plays charioteer and thus the name Partha Sarathy, Sarathy meaning the one who drives. There are various interpretations to the epic war, such the two who fight are within us who are Parthas, the bad and the good, while The Lord resides in our hearts and guides us in our every step. HE suggests a way of living, acts as a guide when we make mistakes and advises steps to recoup our mistakes. 

Bhagavad Gita which evolved from the Mahabharatha, is the best book one could ever lay their hands on. It has so many anecdotes, so many real-life situations and experts have always agreed there is no better resource to clarify our doubts than the Gita. I have read many parts of the Mahabharatha across various books and articles and have also heard a number of discourses by scholars. Every time I hear the Mahabharatha, I discover a new thing about life and take a leaf out of the book, quite literally. 

Summary of the Gita

The Lord says, “what is yours today was someone else’s yesterday, will be someone else’s tomorrow” and “you brought nothing, you take back nothing” among various other things.

Legend

It is said that Lord Krishna, after the Epic war was over performed Pattabhisheka – ordained Dhramaraja as the King and came to this location where He blesses his ardent devotees. The 10 feet idol of Lord Krishna has a mostache, a rarity for Sriman Mahavishnu, and faces East. 

The temple also has separate precincts for Sri Yoga Narasimha facing West, Sri Nitya Varadaraja Perumal, Goddess Mahalakshmi and Goddess Aandal. It is said that the Utsavar idol has marks of the arrows that were aimed at the Lord during the Epic war. 

Among the 106 Divya Desam temples on Earth, Tiruvallikeni Sri Parthasarathy is the presiding deity of the city of Chennai (formerly Madras). Various Kings are said to have maintained the temple and have contributed immensely for the upkeep of the temple over centuries. 

Main Festivals;

Sri Krishna Jayanthi - Tamil Month - …………. English Calendar Year - ………….

Temple Timings: 

6am to 12.30pm; 4.30pm – 8.30pm

Google Link

How to reach: 

Railhead: 

Chennai Central Railway Station (7 kms)

Chennai Egmore Railway Station (7 kms)

Tambaram Railway Station (27 kms)

Bus Stand: 

Koyambedu Bus Station (15 kms)

Airport: 

Chennai Airport (16 kms)

By Road:

The Temple is situated in the heart of the city at Triplicane. City buses are available to reach the place, so are Autos & Taxis. There is limited parking for self-driven cars and is almost impossible to get one during the peak hours and weekends. Also, the roads leading to the temple are quite narrow.

The Marina Beach is less than 2 kms from the temple. There is a huge Temple tank on the eastern side of the temple where Teppotsavam is held from time to time. 

Welcome Post

Welcome to my weblog on Temples - Gopurams & More.

It's been a long pending task for me to share the temples I visit - something many of my friends, family and acquaintances have asked me to share. It's quite an effort to chronicle the visits than driving to the temples - but I assure to get this up and running from now on. 

Do share your wish list of temples' information that you may need and I will do my best.

Write in to me at shri611@gmail.com