Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal Pazhaya Seevaram

Kanchi Varadar makes his annual 20km trip to this temple on the day after Pongal

Lord Narasimha with Goddess Lakshmi

Located about 20kms east of Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal koil on the Kanchipuram-Chengalpet State Highway is the Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal koil in Pazhaya Seevaram.

The Story
Wanting a darshan of Lord Narasimha, Rishi Aathri Anusaya was undertaking penance at Naimisaarinyam. With his prayers not being answered there, the Rishi increased the intensity of his penance.

One day, he heard an invisible voice that asked him to move southward to the foot of Padmagiri parvatham where there is a confluence of three rivers

He is said to have to come this place and undertaken penance, facing East ward, on the banks of the three rivers- Palar, Cheyyar and Vegavathi- that meet here.

Lord Lakshmi Narasimha is said to have appeared before him and provided darshan facing the west. And as per the wishes of the Rishi, Lord Narasimha remained here, ever after and is seen in a grand sitting posture, west facing, with Goddess Lakshmi on his lap.

Historical Reference
One finds a reference to this episode in chapter 17 of the Brahmanda Puranam relating to Padmagiri Mahaatyam.

Lord Varadar’s yearly trip to Pazhaya Seevaram
The big highlight at this temple is the annual trip of Kanchi Varadar.

The story goes that the moolavar deity of Kanchipuram Perumal Koil (Lord Varadarajan) is said to have been damaged during the invasion of the Muslim rulers. As a damaged deity could not be worshipped, it was immersed in the temple tank (This moolavar deity- Athi Varadan- is taken out once every 40 years and placed outside for worship for a period of 10 days. This event will take place next in 2019).

The moolavar that we see today at Kanchipuram Varadarajar Perumal Koil was brought from Pazhaya Seevaram. In memory of this event, the Utsava idol of Kanchi Lord Varadarajan is taken on a procession once a year, on the ‘Maatu Pongal’ day during the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb) to Pazhaya Seevaram.

Paari Vettai Utsavam
Lord Varadarajan leaves Kanchipuram on the evening of the Pongal day and reaches Pazhaya Seevaram Lakshmi Narasimha koil at 6am the next morning (He is scheduled to leave on the evening of 14th January 2009 to reach Pazhaya Seevaram at 6am on 15th January 2009).

The morning of Maatu Pongal day is one dedicated to the people of Pazhaya Seevaram, celebrating this once in a year ‘Paari Vettai’ Utsavam where they play host to Kanchi Varadar as the Lord goes on a procession around the streets of Pazhaya Seevaram.

At around 9am, Kanchi Varadar climbs the 250 odd steps( atop the Lakshmi Narasimha temple) to the hill top where he originally belonged !!!

That evening, along with Lord Narasimha of Pazhaya Seevaram, Kanchi Varadar is taken on a procession to Keezh Seevaram to the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal koil at Thiru Mukoodal. Lords from five different temples congregate here that evening.

Back at Pazhaya Seevaram after about 3 hours, Kanchi Varadar bids good bye to Lakshmi Narasimhar at around 930pm at the Pazhaya Seevaram Temple and makes his way back to Chinna Kanchipuram for another year!!

Rivers in full flow
Devotees who have been to this temple in the 1960s/70s say that they used to reach here by bullock cart (there were no buses then) and would stay here for a month enjoying the cool breeze and peaceful surroundings. The rivers, they say, used to run full through the year which would make a wonderful sight from the top of the temple.

At the time of writing this piece, Palar was completely dry.

Management of the temple
Interestingly, this temple has been managed by a private Gujarathi trust (at least for the last 300 years) and has been maintained very well.

Quick Facts

Deity : Lakshmi Narasimha West Facing Sitting Posture
Temple Time : 730am-11am and 4pm-630pm
Priest : Srinivasa Bhattar
Contact : 94437 18137
Festivals : Brahmotsavam in Aani, Pavitrosavam in Aavani, Narasimha Jayanthi