ThiruAllikeni

ThiruAllikeni – The Holy abode of Sri Parthasarathy

ThiruAllikeni was known as Brindaranya or the sacred forest of Tulasi. It houses the ancient temple of Venkata Krishnan and Parthasarathy. The Temple also houses 4 other forms of Vishnu. It is one of the few temples where Lord Krishna is depicted in his vyuha forms or in other words with all members of his family in the sanctum sanctorum. The processional deity of Parthasarathy is a unique form with scars incurred from the Mahabharata war inscribed on his face. The Temple is said to have been founded during the Pallava period and the present form of the temple are renovations carried out by the kings and chieftains of the Vijayanagar Empire and later merchant princes. This Volume is a first attempt to consolidate the various aspects of this temple on its Art, Architecture, Traditions and Festivals. Hope this will be a welcome addition to introduce this well-known temple, further to the Readers.