The entire Parthan Palli Divya Desam, located five km from Annan Koil, and one of the 11 sacred Vishnu temples in Thiru Nangur, has received a complete face lift and is now wearing a new look with the renovation having been undertaken at a cost of Rs. 2crores. Samprokshanam took place on May 29.
An article on the renovation of the shrine was carried in this supplement ( dated March 29, 2013, https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/shrine-dedicated-to-arjuna/article4558178.ece). This ancient divyadesam, that dates back to Mahabharatha, has been praised by Thirumangai Azhwar in his Periya Thirumozhi.
Parthasarathy is one of the 11 Divya desam deities to participate in the Thiru Nangur Garuda Sevai, which will be held in Thai.
The main Western temple tower, Perumal and Thayar vimanams, the sannidhi dedicated to Arjuna, the outer walls and the prakaram have been renovated. In memory of the legend relating to this temple, a separate sannidhi for Sage Agastya has been built with the Vasantha mandapa being the new addition. Madapalli (kitchen) has been fully reconstructed and now looks spacious.
It was at this Divyadesam that Arjuna was initiated into ‘Knowledge Education’ by Lord Parthasarathy to make the former understand who he really was and what his real powers were. Since Arjuna played the role of a student, this temple came to be known after him as ‘Parthan Palli.’ Hence this is a divya desam dedicated to Arjuna. A separate sannidhi for Arjuna, seen alongside Krishna, is a special feature here.
The Moolavar, Lord Thamaraial Kelvan, is seen in a standing posture facing West. Poigai Azhwar in his Thiruvandhadhi verse makes a reference to this moolavar deity without specifically mentioning Parthan Palli (Tharumanaiye Nokkumon Thaamaraiaal Kelvan).
How to reach
Parthan Palli divyadesam is located two km from Thiruvenkadu (Budhan Sthala) about 15 km from Sirkazhi, off the Poompuhar Road. Auto fare from Thiruvenkadu is Rs. 50. The temple is open between 8 -11 a.m. and 5 – 8 p.m. Contact: 90956 24150/94422 26413
A thirsty Arjuna, after a long trip, went to Sage Agastya’s ashram looking for water but the Sage’s kamandalam had gone dry. Realising that this was one of Lord Krishna’s acts, sage Agastya directed Arjuna to invoke the blessings of his favourite Lord. Answering Arjuna’s prayers, Krishna appeared here as Parthasarathy and presented Arjuna a sword with an instruction to strike the ground. To Arjuna’s surprise, water gushed out helping him quench his thirst. To mark this event, Arjuna is seen with a sword at this divyadesam and the location, south of the temple, where it took place, is now the sacred ‘Katka’ Pushkarani. Renovation work of this sacred tank, whose legend dates back to the above episode, is still pending. This, along with repair work of the vahanams, is expected to cost around Rs. 50 Lakhs.
S.P.
Special features
With the completion of the renovation, the annual Brahmotsavam is expected to be revived next Vaikasi.
The temple is also planning a five-day Pavitrotsavam in Aadi this year and Navaratri in a grand manner.
On Amavasya in Aadi (Aug. 14), Lord Parthasarathy will leave Parthan Palli in the morning on a 10 km procession to the sea in Poompuhar (where Cauvery merges with Bay of Bengal) where the annual theertavari festival will be celebrated.
An interesting feature is that this is the only Divya Desam in Thiru Nangur where both Rama and Krishna feature together as utsava deities - (Parthasarathy and Kola Villi Rama).
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