Kanchipuram, one of the seven Mokshapuris of India and the only one situated in South India, is an ancient pilgrim centre, much revered by Srivaishnavas. This ancient city and the surrounding areas have been connected with the lives of many of the Azhwars and Acharyas of the Srivaishnava tradition. Sevelimedu, one of the suburbs of Kanchipuram, approximately 3 kms from the heart of the town is one such place, closely connected with an important incident in the life of Sri Ramanujacharya, the pre-eminent Srivaishnava preceptor. There is a small shrine for him a Sevelimedu and also a well from which he carried water for the tirumanjanam of Sri Varadaraja Perumal in Kanchipuram at the behest of his teacher Sri Tirukkachi Nambi.
Sevelimedu also attracts ardent Srivaishnavas because of the large temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal situated there. According to local legend, this temple, which is an Abhimana Sthalam, was consecrated during the Pallava times. Kanchipuram was the capital city of the kings of the Pallava dynasty who ruled from the 5[SUP]th[/SUP] to 9[SUP]th[/SUP] centuries A.D. and Sevelimedu is said to have got this name as there was an ancient palace of the Pallava kings here under a mound (medu) and because the seveli flowers grew here. Although there is no clear evidence of all this, the ancient temple for Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is still actively under worship.
The temple and the main sanctum face east. The main deity, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, is in a seated pose with Goddess Lakshmi on his left lap. His upper hands hold the conch and discus, while his lower right hand is in the attitude of reassuring his devotees that he will protect them and his left hand encircles Goddess Lakshmi. The processional deity of this temple is known as Sri Soundarya Varadar. In front of this main sanctum is a large mandapam with many pillars, datable to the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] – 16[SUP]th[/SUP] century A.D., of the era of the Vijayanagara kings which are studded with numerous sculptures. To the side of this mandapam is a small sanctum with stone images of Sri Vishvaksena, Ananta, Vaikunthavasan, Poygai Azhwar, Nammazhwar, Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika. Leading from this mandapam is another one hall of a similar type, but much larger and more ornate. In this pillared hall is a shrine for a large stone image of Garuda in Anjali hasta, facing Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal. In the same mandapam, is another small sanctum for Sri Bhakta Anjaneya facing south. Situated in the vast prakara, to the right of the main sanctum and facing east, is the shrine for Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped in this temple as Sri Soundaryavalli Thayar.
This temple, which was in a dilapidated condition, has been renovated. Although many parts of the temple have been much modernized, vestiges of the art and architecture of the bygone eras are still seen here, especially the architectural expansion which took place in the Vijayanagara times. In 2011, the Maha Samprokshanam of this temple took place and in 2008 the Rajagopuram Samprokshanam was conducted.
A few festivals are celebrated in this temple which follows the codes of the Vaikhanasa Agama. During every Swati nakshatram, Tirumanjanam takes place for Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. Fridays in the month of Thai are important for Thayar here. In the month of Chittirai, Sri Varadaraja Swami from the famous temple of Kanchipuram visits this temple and goes around the village and then goes to the nearby historic village of Ayyangarkulam where there is a large temple for Sri Anjaneya.
Sevelimedu also attracts ardent Srivaishnavas because of the large temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal situated there. According to local legend, this temple, which is an Abhimana Sthalam, was consecrated during the Pallava times. Kanchipuram was the capital city of the kings of the Pallava dynasty who ruled from the 5[SUP]th[/SUP] to 9[SUP]th[/SUP] centuries A.D. and Sevelimedu is said to have got this name as there was an ancient palace of the Pallava kings here under a mound (medu) and because the seveli flowers grew here. Although there is no clear evidence of all this, the ancient temple for Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is still actively under worship.
The temple and the main sanctum face east. The main deity, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, is in a seated pose with Goddess Lakshmi on his left lap. His upper hands hold the conch and discus, while his lower right hand is in the attitude of reassuring his devotees that he will protect them and his left hand encircles Goddess Lakshmi. The processional deity of this temple is known as Sri Soundarya Varadar. In front of this main sanctum is a large mandapam with many pillars, datable to the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] – 16[SUP]th[/SUP] century A.D., of the era of the Vijayanagara kings which are studded with numerous sculptures. To the side of this mandapam is a small sanctum with stone images of Sri Vishvaksena, Ananta, Vaikunthavasan, Poygai Azhwar, Nammazhwar, Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika. Leading from this mandapam is another one hall of a similar type, but much larger and more ornate. In this pillared hall is a shrine for a large stone image of Garuda in Anjali hasta, facing Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal. In the same mandapam, is another small sanctum for Sri Bhakta Anjaneya facing south. Situated in the vast prakara, to the right of the main sanctum and facing east, is the shrine for Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped in this temple as Sri Soundaryavalli Thayar.
This temple, which was in a dilapidated condition, has been renovated. Although many parts of the temple have been much modernized, vestiges of the art and architecture of the bygone eras are still seen here, especially the architectural expansion which took place in the Vijayanagara times. In 2011, the Maha Samprokshanam of this temple took place and in 2008 the Rajagopuram Samprokshanam was conducted.
A few festivals are celebrated in this temple which follows the codes of the Vaikhanasa Agama. During every Swati nakshatram, Tirumanjanam takes place for Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. Fridays in the month of Thai are important for Thayar here. In the month of Chittirai, Sri Varadaraja Swami from the famous temple of Kanchipuram visits this temple and goes around the village and then goes to the nearby historic village of Ayyangarkulam where there is a large temple for Sri Anjaneya.