Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
The Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple, also called Tiruvelukkai, is a Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram dedicated to Narasimha, the man-lion form of Vishnu, who is worshipped here as Azhagiya Singar, with his consort Lakshmi as Amruthavalli. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, and is the smallest of the Divya Desams in Kanchipuram. The great teacher Vedanta Desika wrote a hymn, the Kamasikashtakam, in praise of this Lord.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Azhagiya Singar, Narasimha
- Visit the shrine of Amruthavalli
- Learn about the Kamasikashtakam, the hymn by Vedanta Desika
- Enjoy a small, quiet temple
Ideal for
- Devotees of Narasimha and Vishnu
- Pilgrims following the 108 Divya Desams
- Followers of Vedanta Desika
Good to know
- Timings are given differently by different sources, and temples in Kanchipuram usually close in the middle of the day, so check locally
- Dress modestly, remove footwear at the entrance, and expect a quiet, traditional atmosphere
- Mobile phone and camera rules vary inside the sanctum, so ask at the gate
- Go in the morning or evening, when the temple is open and the light is soft
Spiritual significance
Tiruvelukkai is a small Divya Desam with a big place in the Sri Vaishnava tradition, because of the hymn that Vedanta Desika wrote here.
Why it matters
- A Divya Desam: one of the 108 Vishnu temples praised by the Alvars
- A Narasimha temple: the man-lion form of Vishnu
- A hymn by Vedanta Desika: the Kamasikashtakam