Thiruparthanpalli

Thiruparthanpalli is traditionally enumerated as number 36 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

Thiru Parthan Palli is one of the eleven Thirunangoor Tirupathis. The moolavar here is seen in a standing posture facing west. The moolavar is known as Tamarayal Kelvan. The utsavar is known as Parthasarathy. The Goddess is known as Tamarai Nayaki. The theertham is known as Ganga theertham. The vimanam is Narayana vimanam.

It is believed that during the great epic war on the battle field, Arjuna suddenly lost his will to fight against his own kith and kin. He let Gandeevam fall to the ground and decided to start on a pilgrimage. He reached Palasa vanam. He was feeling thirsty. He reached a place where Agasthier, Bharadhvajar and Gowthma rishis were doing penance. He met Agasthier and asked him for some water. But surprisingly, Agasthier found that even his kamandalam was empty and there was not a drop of water. But with his gnana drushti, Agasthier realised that it was God’s will that his kamandalam should be empty. He asked Arjuna to pray to Lord Narayana. Accordingly, Arjuna did severe penance. The Lord appeared before Him. He gave him a sword. He asked him to draw a line onthe ground with that sword. Water gushed out.*This water is said to be the water from the river Ganges. This water collected in a pond near the temple and this pond is even today known as Khadga pushkarini. Khadga means sword in Sanskrit. As the pushkarini is said to contain the water of the holy Ganges, it also came to be known as Ganga theertham. It is also known as Sri Vishnupada theertham.

_ As Lord Narayana appeared before Arjuna here, Arjuna was able to get rid of his agnanam and was able to attain gnanam. The Lord appeared with His Chaturbujam before Arjuna. God is said to have explained the meaning of Charama slokam to Arjuna and made him realise that he should do his duty and leave the rest to God.

’ Charama slokam runs as follows :

Sarva dharman Parithyajya Mam Ekam Saranam Vraja Aham Thvam Sarva papeybhyo Mokshya ishyam, Maa Suchaha

Take refuge in Me alone;

I shall release you from all sins and grant moksha

This is the only temple among the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams where there is a sannidhi for Arjuna. In the sannidhi, Arjuna is seen with a sword. He is facing north. It is said that earlier when he left the battle field, Kurukshetra, Arjuna was facing south and started on his pilgrimage down south. In this place, he had the dharshan of Lord Krishna and got his enlightenment. Immediately afterwards he took the sword in his hand and was ready to start back to fight at the battle field. Hence he is seen geeing Neth, ready to go back to the battle field in the north.