Selaiyur Adi Keshava Perumal Temple

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Site Name: Adi Keshava Perumal Temple
Site Type: Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu
Location:  Selaiyur, near Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India
Nearest Railway Station: Chennai
Nearest Airport: Chennai
How to reach: Well connected by road from Chennai; public transport is difficult
Hotel: Go to Chennai or Tambaram where there are lot of options 
Restaurants: Go to Chennai or Tambaram where there are lot of options

Selaiyur is a locality located near Tambaram which is near Chennai city in South India. This locality has so many temples including the famous Skandashram. However, only few know about the ancient Adi Keshava Perumal temple located here. Let us explore this temple in this article.

Highlights:
  • God - Adi Keshava Perumal Temple
  • Goddess - Amritavalli
  • Believed to be built by Pandyas
  • Lizard on ceiling is found similar Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Temple Layout:

Adi Keshava Perumal Temple located near Abirami-Amrudakadeshwarar temple in Selaiyur is small but very ancient. Although all the deities are new, the temple structure especially the pillars, some parts of ceilings and the deepstambha (lamp post) all appear to be very old. It is not known who built this temple. The villagers claim that the temple was built by the Pandya Kings due to fish carvings in the ceiling. But, finding fish on the ceiling is a common thing and that cannot determine if the temple was built by the Pandyas. This appears to be 200-300 years later period temple.

The presiding deity is Adi Keshava Perumal; he is found with four arms and in the standing posture. He is found along with his two consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi on his either sides.

There is a separate shrine for the Goddess Amrita Valli in this temple.

A small idol of Sudarshana with Narasimha on his back side is found.

Near the lamp post, Garuda is found who faces towards the main shrine.

The utsava idols, Andal, few Alwars, Manavala Mamunigal and Ramanujar are all found near the main shrine.

There is a sub-shrine for Ram-Lakshman-Sita with Hanuman in front of them. The specialty of the shrine is that Lakshman is found on the right side of Ram; it is not usual in Tamil Nadu.

 There are few carvings found on the ceiling such as fish, serpents and lizards. 

Happy travelling.





Location: Selaiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Comments

  1. V GopalanWednesday, August 13, 2014

    Looks like an interesting old temple! Nice write up!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownSunday, June 17, 2018

    It is in fact 1000 years old and can be verified by an inscription in one of the vahanas (peedam)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indian ColumbusSunday, June 17, 2018

      Can you please provide more details about that, sir?

      Delete
    2. UnknownWednesday, January 12, 2022

      I have details related to that Inscription, but that's not 1000 years old.

      Delete
  3. Sivaramakkrishnan.S.KWednesday, November 06, 2019

    HI,

    DO u have any idea about Dhanvanthiri deity in this temple. If not, any ancient temple which Dhanvanthiri deity inside city. I reside in pallikaranai.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indian ColumbusWednesday, November 06, 2019

      There are new idols of Dhanvantari in few temples, but no ancient temple in Chennai.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousSaturday, June 04, 2022

      Only Srirangam temple has Dhavanthiri deity in it's temple complex

      Delete
  4. AnonymousSunday, August 25, 2024

    Thank you for the info. Very useful.

    ReplyDelete

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