Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple, Pazhaya Seevaram –
Festivals
Lots of
Utsavams are performed in this sthalam. Brahmotsavam in Aani month, Pavitrotsavam
in Aavani, Narasimha Jayanthi, Theerthavari in Swathi and Parivettai during
Thai month are said to be some of the Utsavams that are performed in a great
manner.
Pazhaiya Seevaram Parivettai:
Apart
from its holiness due to the confluence of the three rivers, the hill temple is
visited by Lord Varadaraja of Kanchipuram on the day following Sankaranthi, for
what is known as ``Pazhaiya Seevaram Parivettai''. Parivettai is observed to
mark the destruction of evil forces by the Lord and is celebrated in almost all
Vishnu temples.
It is
said the present Moolavar idol of Lord Varadaraja at Kanchipuram was sculpted
out of a rock here after the original wooden idol of Atthi Varadar got damaged
hundreds of years ago. It is said to mark this, Lord Varadaraja is taken to
Pazhaiya Seevaram on the day following Sankaranthi every year, when thousands
of devotees gather here for Vana Bhojanam and aradhana.
Lord
Varadaraja, who leaves his abode at 10 p.m. on Sankaranthi day, accompanied by
devotees including those reciting Azhwars' Paasurams and Vedas, is carried all
the way to a distance of 15 km and goes around Pazhaiya Seevaram village at the
foot of the hillock. He reaches the Narasimha temple, which is in the middle of
the hillock, at noon and then he is taken to the Varadaraja Mandapam atop the
hill, by climbing the 140 steps.
He stays
in the mandapam there till 4 p.m. when Thirumanjanam (sacred bath)
and Aradhana are performed. Later the Lord reaches the Narasimha Temple and
both the Gods are taken to a temple at Thiru Mukkoodal, on the other side of
Palar where a temple for Lord Srinivasa, known as Appan, exists.
There
the three Gods, along with the Lords of two other temples, give darshan. Later
Lord Varadaraja returns to Pazhaiya Seevaram along with Narasimhar and then
starts his trek back to Kanchipuram late in the night and reaches there next
morning.
