மற்றுமோர் தெய்வமுண்டே மதியிலா மானிடங்காள்*
உற்றபோதன்றி நீங்கள் ஒருவனென்றுணர மாட்டீர்*
அற்றமேலொன்றறீயீர் அவனல்லால் தெய்வமில்லை*
கற்றினம் மேய்த்த வெந்தை கழலிணை பணிமினீரே.
Sriman Narayana is Supreme and reaching to Him is the
purpose of our life. One need not even
learn – all that one need is to worship the feet of our great Lord who walked
on earth grazing cows! ~ simple words of Thondarappodi Azhwar.
In the
bustling Chennai there is an island ! – one that was formed on the Coovum River
nearer its estuary. The island was created artificially in the early 19th
century by merging the Coovum River with
the then Elambore River. The Island Grounds constitute a vast empty space on
the island. Since 1975, the annual India
Tourist and Industrial Fair, popularly known to the locals as the trade fair,
is conducted on this island by the state government during the months of
January to March. It attracts huge
crowds, though over the years – there is not much to enjoy.
A peep in to the past – would make us understand the pristine glory of this puranic
place - Triplicane, the existence of which far exceeds the Chennai and present
conglomeration. The city symbolises the rise of British power in South
India by setting up and consolidation of the East India Company in
the seventeenth century with its headquarters at Fort St.
George in Chennai as a trading centre. The present day
territorial limits of the city existed in the shape of scattered villages
for centuries before the advent of the British.
Thiruvallikkeni has been in existence far before
that. Visitors first look at 'Kairavini
Pushkarini' - the thirukulam of Sri Parthasarathi Swami Temple - a pond of lily
flowers ~ which gave the place the name 'Thiruvallikkeni' which some claim to have been in existence for
thousands of years. Going by the stone inscriptions found in the
temple and by the fact that it is sung by Pey Azhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar and
Tirumangai Azhwar, it can safely be concluded that this temple has existed for
a minimum of more than 1200 years now. There is inscription of Pallava
King - Danti Varman dating (779-830); in effect Triplicane also has existed for
more than 1200 years by now, if not more.
For most Triplicanites, life revolves around this
magnificent Temple, its Lord, the purappadu and various rituals ~ a holy place
to live. .. .. the other day went to
Trade fair – on one side is the shops and on the other side is pavilions put up
by Govt departments including Police, Port, HR&CE. Hindu Religious Department this time has put
up a pavilion with façade of Sri Parthasarathi swami temple and inside was this
idol representing Moolavar Sri Venkata Krishnan with Rukmini thayar by his
side.
Adiyen Srinivasadhasan
16th Feb 2016.
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