In the Triplicane neighbourhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, stands the ancient Parthasarathy temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams sung by the Alvar saints and among the oldest shrines of the city, dating in origin to the Pallava era. Here Vishnu is worshipped as Parthasarathy, the charioteer of Arjuna — the form Krishna took to guide Arjuna on the field of Kurukshetra — and the presiding image is revered as still bearing marks upon its face from that great battle.
Uniquely, the temple honours five forms of Vishnu drawn from Krishna's own family, including Krishna, Balarama, and Rukmini. A cherished centre of Sri Vaishnava devotion in the heart of Chennai, Parthasarathy draws pilgrims especially during its grand Brahmotsavam and the Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival.
