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Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram

Kanniyakumari district, IN

Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram

Parthasarathy Temple, also spelled Parthasarathi Temple, is a 9th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. Spread over 2.5 acres, the temple is notable for the extensive records about it that have been discovered in Huzur Plates of Kollam. The inscriptio

ns on these plates describe how the temple was built along with a salai (boarding school) for 95 students to study the Vedas and other subjects in the Taittiriya, Talavakara and Bhavishya śākhas. The temple has a square plan from adhisthana to its sikhara for the main shrine as well as smaller shrines in the compound. The main temple illustrates a tritala vimana with a Garuda namaskara mandapa in front. Inside the main temple is a raised mukha-mandapa that connects to the garbhagriha (sanctum). Around the sanction is an open pradakshina-patha (circumambulation path), which is surrounded by walls and a raised platform with rooms. Outside is spacious courtyards and smaller shrines. The Vimana is in Chola style, while the temple layout reflects the early Kerala Hindu temple architecture. The temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, Thrissur circle. It is a protected monument.

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