Sevilimedu Salakkinaru Ramanujar Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Sevilimedu Salakkinaru Ramanujar Temple, Sevilimedu, Kanchipuram district, Tamilnadu- 631502

Diety

Ramanujar

Introduction

Salakkinaru is located close to the Ramanujar Sannidhi, this is the well from where Sri Ramanujar used to draw water and carry to Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple for Thirumanjanam purpose. It is located at about 7 kms from Varadaraja temple is Sevilimedu the place where one can see the holy Salai Kinaru. Salai Kinaru was from where Bhagavad Ramanuja used to bring water for Varadaraja Perumal daily.

Puranic Significance

There was a story behind selecting this well particularly. Ramanujacharya as a vidhyarthi (student) studied under Yadava Prakasa. He was disturbed once by his guru’s interpretation of “Kaapyasam Pundarikakshan” and gave the right meaning for the metaphor. On another occasion when his guru was asked to drive away a Brahmarakshasa who had possessed the local princess the Brahmarakshasa wanted Ramanuja’s feet to touch the head of the girl. The guru got worried that his Shishya would surpass him and hatched a plot to do away with him. A Kasi yatra was planned and the ruse was to kill Ramanuja on the way. Govinda, Ramanuja’s cousin came to know of this and warned Ramanuja to escape while he proceeded with the group to avoid suspicion. Poor Ramanuja thus was left alone in the dense forests of the Vindhyas. Perplexed he was wondering what to do when he spied a hunter couple. He asked them for help and he followed them when they walked and slept when they rested. They lit a fire to keep warm and fed him with berries and fruits. They asked Ramanuja to tell them the story of Srirama and Seetha and the travel weariness was reduced. While going to sleep one night he heard the hunter woman ask her husband for water as she was thirsty. Being pitch dark Ramanuja waited for daybreak to bring water for the couple who helped him. He took along with him the pot used for doing anushtanam (sandhya Vandanam) and looked around for a source of water. He found a well and hurriedly drew water and carried it to the spot where the couple was resting. But there were no signs of them at all. He came back to the well and asked people around in which place he was. They showed him the Punyakoti vimanam at a distance and tears rolled down his eyes when he understood the hunter couple who brought him to safety was none other than Perundevi Thayar and Varadaraja Perumal Saddened by his missed opportunity of offering them theertham he made it a point to carry water from this well to the temple every day. It has been cordoned off safely and is probably opened every year when Anushtana Kula utsavam takes place. This happens the day after iyarpaa in the month of Margazhi. Devotees visiting Varadaraja Perumal can engage an auto to visit this place. There is a temple to Bhagavad Ramanuja close by and can have darshan through an open window.

Special Features

Ramanujar Sannidhi is the place where Ramanujar used to live after estranging himself from married life. This is the place where Thirumazhisai aalwar along with Kani Kannan and Yadotkaari stayed for one night during banishment of Kani Kannan from the kingdom. Ramanujar used to take water from the nearby well and do Thirumanjanam to Sri Varadharajar temple. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. This temple exactly faces Varadharajar temple and its gopurams are visible from here.