Chennai: The 8th century Parthasarathy temple, the oldest in the city to remain extant in its original location in the Pallava era of King Narasimha Varman I, was the cynosure of all eyes on Friday in the city when thousands of devotees thronged Triplicane to witness the Maha Samprokshanam.
The temple received such makeovers in 1992 and 2004 too, but on this occasion the innards of the temple were given a glittering sheen even as ancient inscriptions were found including in the sanctum sanctorum during restoration work.
The consecration was performed as per the Vaikhanasa Agama (one of the principal traditions of Vaishnavism). After the Maha Samprokshanam the priests started other rituals for the deities in the temple and the devotees were allowed entry for darshan of the presiding deities from 11.30 am till 9 pm.
Thousands of devotees thronged the eighth century Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple, Triplicane, here on Friday and witnessed the conduct of the maha samprokshanam. While a motley crowd of devotees gathered around the Cholaera temple with their eyes fixed on the Rajagopuram and other towers, those living close to the temple gathered on the rooftops to witness the spectacle.
Exactly at 7.45 am the priests led by Parthasarathy Bhattar performed the consecration amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns. Chants of “Narayana, Narayana and Venkata Krishna” filled the air. After performing the special poojas, the priests poured sanctified water on the gold-plated kalasams atop the temple towers and also on the kalasams over the Sannidhis of Sri Parthasarathy Swamy, Sri Andal, Sri Vedavalli Thaayar, Sri Ranganathar, Sri Kothandaramar, Sri Ramanujar and Sri Manavala Mamunigal.
The consecration was performed as per the Vaikhanasa Agama (one of the principal traditions of Vaishnavism). After the maha samprokshanam the priests started other rituals for the deities in the temple and the devotees were allowed entry for darshan of the presiding deities from 11.30 am till 9 pm. “Over 2,000 devotees would have witnessed the consecration and besides them all through the day hundreds of devotees kept pouring in. So, the temple was kept open to facilitate darshan for all the devotees,” said P. Kothandaraman, Deputy Commissioner of the temple.
Priests perform special pooja for the golden kalasams during the maha samprokshanam (Photo: DC)
The temple administration had ensured sufficient infrastructure at the shrine to last for 12 more Samprokshanams (Samprokshanam is conducted once in 12 years), he claimed.“It is really heartwarming that the officials have restored the original sheen of the temple. This will help to retain the vibrations caused due to the chanting of the mantras,” says Parthasarathy Bhattar. About 45 priests including 33 for the Yagasala pooja were involved in the consecration and related activities.
“We began the preparations four months ago. This the first time I had led the priests to perform the samprokshanam,” Parthasarathy Bhattar says. During 1992 and 2004, the maha samprokshanam were performed under the guidance of his father and chief priest at the temple for about 50 years, S. Venkata Krishna Bhattar.
