Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple, Sevilimedu, Kanchipuram

Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple, Sevilimedu, Kanchipuram

Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Sevilimedu Village in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. It is located at distance of 2 Kms from Kanchipuram Town. It is said that the maid servant (Sevilithai) of Pallava Queen stayed in this village and hence it is known as “Sevilimedu”. Another reason cited by some is “Sevalli Flowers” were in the ponds in the village which was the reason for the name of the village.

There is epigraphic evidence to show that Raja Parameswara Pallava performed Samprokshanam for this temple. The age of the temple is said to be around 1200 years old. The temple is situated in 2 acres with 65 feet Rajagopuram. There are separate Sannathis for Perumal, Thayar and Anjaneya Swamy. The Moolavar Narasimhar is 7 ft. height and 5 ft. breadth, the Uthsavar is known as Soundarya Varadhar. Thayar is also 5 ft. height with 3 ft. breadth. The Thayar is called Soundaravalli Thayar.

The Kanchi Varadarajar temple is a famous and well known temple and Pallava kings have taken great care of this temple and this temple had glorious time during their kingdom. However during the Mughal invasion there was a great threat to the temples and Kanchi Varadarajar was taken to this temple at Sevilimedu village in the banks of Palar. There was a beautiful Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple at this village. Varadaraja Perumal was kept here for one year and his Utsavams were performed here.

The archa-Vigrahas were taken to this temple from original Varadaraja temple through a tunnel which can be even seen today. In order to remind of this incident even today Sri Varada visits this temple during Chitra Pournami day. Another interesting note is that the famous well from which Sri Ramanuja used to offer water to Sri Varada is situated near to this temple. The Well is called Salakkinaru meaning the Well near the road.

There is another interesting place near Sevilimedu. This place is called Nadavavi Kinaru. This is a big well-constructed during Pallava Period. In those days this is used for irrigation purpose. Beneath the water there is a Mandapam. During Chitra Pournami the water will be drained out. There are steps to get in to the Mandapam. On the night of Chitra Pournami, Sevilimedu Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy gives darshan to all astikas in this mandapam. This place is 6 kms away from Sevilimedu.

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 15th – 16thcentury 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, Vaikunthavasa, Poigai 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 Soundarya valli 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, Thirumanjanam 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.