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In the glittering grandeur of mirrors
THE PARTHASARATHY temple at Tiruvallikeni is among the most ancient of shrines in Madras, dating back to the Pallava times. Inscriptions of the Chola and Vijaynagar dynasties also mention gifts not only to this temple but those in Velachery and Mylapore as well. The company was the scene of fighting during the French siege and shortly after passed over to the control of the East India Company. With the establishment of the HR & CE Board, the temple's administration was taken over by this authority. Apart from maintaining the administration of the temple, the Board has, in its own small way, played a part in bringing a small facet of this temple's history back to life.
Originally established by Muthu Jamedar from Madurai, the Kannadi Pallaku, also known as the Muthu Pallakku, was a palanquin that was to be used for only three hours every year by Parthasarathy Swami. As many as 135 years ago, provisions were made for the procession to be led by a team of folk dancers thereby integrating the divine with the local art community. Owing to the dilapidation of the palanquin, the function was stopped in 1991.
The board, with the help of the Sri Thirumangai Azhwar Trust, have succeeded in the construction of a new, larger palanquin. N. C. Sridhar, auditor in Triplicane, has donated generously for the cause. The new palanquin, glittering with the many pieces of mirror studded all over it and the 12 festoons also with mirrors on either side, carrying the utsavar was the cynosure of all eyes as it went round the Mada streets on Tuesday last.
PRADEEP CHAKRAVARTHY
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A custom revived after 15 years... the mirror palanquin carrying Sri Parthasarathy Swamy. — Pic. by K. V. Srinivasan
Another important day of the Brahmotsavam... the deity in the car recently renovated. — Pic. by N. Sridharan