The Parthasarathy temple is an 8th century Hindu Vaishnavite temple
dedicated to Lord Krishna and is located at Triplicane in Chennai. It is
considered to be one of the 108holy
abodes of Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna is worshipped here as Parthasarathy. During
the great Mahabharata war, Lord Krishna was the charioteer (sarathy) to the
great warrior Arjuna (Partha) and was his friend and philosopher, guiding him
through the moral dilemma that the war brought up.
Though the Parthasarathy temple is devoted to
the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the main deity at this temple is 'Lord
Krishna', one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Beautiful shrines are dedicated to the different manifestations of Lord
Vishnu. There are separate Dwajasthambams (flag) and entrances for Lord
Parthasarathy and Lord Narasimha.
The gopuram and mandaps (pillars) are decorated with
colourful and elaborate carvings , a typical feature ofSouth Indian temple architecture.
The temple
complex comes alive during the main festivals of Brahmotsavam, Thiruaadipooram
and Neerattu Utsavam when men, women and children dressed in colorful garments
come here to offer prayers andcelebrate
the festival with reverence and ceremony.
