Pazhaiya Seevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Temple

Prime Deity Pazhaiya Seevaram Temple - Lord Lakshmi Narasimha with Mahalakshmi on His lap.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Temple on top of Padmagiri Hillock in Pazhaiya Seevaram

Pazhaiya Seeavaram Hillock viewed from Palar River: Hillock Padmagiri, Temple Gopuram, and Palar River Bridge

Pazhaiya Seevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Temple Rajagopuram (Front view)

Pazhaiya Seevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Temple Rajagopuram (Interior view)

Pazhaiya Seevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Temple Main Entrance and Vimanam

Pazhaiya Seevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Vimanam (Rear side view)

Goddess Ahobilavalli Thayar Shrine

Gujarati Devotees' sculpture found on the pillar of the Mandapam

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy temple, seated on top of Padmagiri hillock in Pazhaiya Seevaram village, is located on the  Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu State Highway SH58 and it is about 16 km from Chengalpattu and about 20 km from Kanchipuram. In reality the temple is located on the midway to the hillock i.e, about 100 steps to be climbed up to reach the temple.

The nondescript village Pazhaiya Seevaram, aka. 'Sripuram' is also on the northern bank of the holy river Palar and the Thirumukkoodal Sri Appan Venkatesa Perumal temple on the southern bank.  The village is surrounded by lush green paddy fields, swaying coconut palm, huts and tiled houses and the winding streets.  There is 'Sudharasana Hill,' another hillock found opposite to Padmagiri.

The name Sripuram has a hoary past. After the annihilation of Hiranyakasibu, Lord appeared ferocious. From the legends it is learned that the Lord was pacified by goddess Mahalakshmi at this shrine. Since  goddess Mahalakshmi played the key role in appeasing the Lord and hence the village got the name 'Sripuram,'as a token of gratitude. Legends equate it as 'Sathya Varadha Kshetram.' The inscriptions of the Pallava King Vijaya Nripathunga found at Thirumukkoodal mention this village as 'Siyapuram' ('Siyam' means lion and 'puram' means place or shrine). It is difficult to make out the significance for the word 'Pazhaiya' or old.

Pazhaiya Seevaram village is also marked by the confluence of three rivers - Palar (Ksheera Nadhi), Seyar or Cheyyar (Bahu Nadhi) and Vegavathi (Saraswathi). The three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati unite together at the holy shrine Triveni Sangamam or Prayag, in Uttar Pradesh state, India. However the river Saraswati's presence is not visible to our eyes and hence marked as 'Antharvahini' meaning flowing below the earth. At the confluence point,  known as Thirumukkudal (aka. Dakshina Prayag), one can physically witness the confluence of three rivers with the naked eye. Therefore Thirumukkudal is yet more holier than Triveni Sangamam or Prayag.

The hill temple complex is considerably big and the east facing temple has five tier rajagopuram,  a tall dwajasthambam and balipeetam. The sanctum of the prime deity is facing west. The imposing six feet high (seated) prime deity,  Sri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy  appear with His consort Sri Mahalakshmi on His left lap and graces His devotees. Unlike many shrines where the Lord appears ferocious and with un-quenched anger, He appears with cool and composed emotions (as santhamoorthy)  at this shrine. The Lord is adorns with a five yards by three yards (pathaaru) dhoti and angavastra and the consort wears the traditional nine yards sari.  There is a separate sanctum for the consort Sri Ahobilavalli Thayar (Ahobilam). Also separate east facing  sanctum exists for Andal, consort of Lord Vishnu at the north western corner. At the south eastern side corridor there are shrines for Nammaazhvaar, Thirumangai Aazhwar and Vishnu Chithar (Vaishnavitie saints). The temple also include one ornate (granite) pillared hall at the northern side and yet another four pillared hall at the eastern side of the corridor. The temple's antiquity can be established with 11th century Chola inscriptions. They speak about grants offered by the kings and the public. Some consider that this shrine might be still older.

The holy temple tank (pond) is located at the feet of the hillock and can be viewed while climbing up through steps.

The temple legend, Padmagiri Mahatmiyam, in chapter 17 of Brahmaanda Puranam speaks about the pursuit of a saint by name Vishnu Chithar for the best shrine to have darshan (glimpse) of Lord Vishnu after severe penance. When approached to Mareecha Muni, the saint guided Vishnu Sithar to Padmagiri. The glimpse (darshan) of Lord Narasimha (the fifth manifestation of Vishnu) would fulfill the purpose of his penance. Mareecha Muni also quoted the pursuit of Athri Rishi in getting glimpse (darshan) of Vishnu in the manifestation of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar after observing penance. Saint Athiri made an appeal to the Lord Narasimha to stay at Padmagiri to bless His devotees and the Lord fulfilled the wish of Athiri rishi and blesses the mankind with His benign grace.

Few Gujarati Vaishnava philanthropists, residing at Chennai for many generations, undertake the administration of the temple and Sri Gokulnathji of Vallabha Sampradaya remained here for years together and attended temple duties. The charity trust under the presidentship of  Govinda Das Purushotham Das have extended various restoration work including rajagopuram and vimanam renovation, de-silting and deepening the holy tank of the temple.

Festival

Since the wooden idol of the prime deity Lord Varadaraja at Kanchipuram was worn out, the granite idol was  sculpted out of the boulder obtained from Padmagiri. As a token gratitude, the festival of Paari Vettai Festival is observed and the procession deity of Lord Varadaraja proceeds to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Pazaiya Seevaram on every 'Mattu Pongal day'  i.e, the day next to Sankranthi day every year, wherein thousands of ardent followers accumulate here for vana bhojanam (meal at the jungle) and aradhana.

Timings

Morning 6 am – 11 am and 5 pm – 8 pm

How to get there?

Pazhaiya Seevaram, Kanchipuram district PIN  631606, is a small village located about 20 km from Kanchipuram on the road going towards Chengalpattu. While going from Chengalpattu, one can reach Pazhaiya Seevaram 5 kms before Walajabad.

Reference

1. Narasimhar temples in and around http://rangacharirama.blogspot.in/2009/06/narasimhar-templse-in-and-around.html
   Pazhaiya seevaram http://mukurnarasimha.blogspot.in/2007_04_01_archive.html
2. Pazhaiya seevaram Narasimha Temple http://allaboutmadras.blogspot.com/2013/10/pazhaya-seevaram-narasimha-temple.html
3. Raju's Temple Visit http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/6/