Whenever we travelled to Kanchipuram, I often noticed the signs pointing to Singaperumal Koil near Chengalpattu. However, I didn’t realize that Singaperumal Koil is not just the name of the temple but also the name of the place itself!

This temple is also known as Pataladhri, a name derived from the combination of “patalam” (Red) and “Athiri” (hill). Lord Narasimha is depicted here in a fierce form with red eyes, perched atop a small mound, hence the name Pataladhri. This ancient temple boasts a history spanning over a thousand years.

When i posted about this on facebook, one of my friends Sesha Sivasailam commented a very interesting tit bit about this temple ” The stala vruksham is Azhinjil. Certain seeds from this tree after falling on ground move and get attached to the bark eventually inmersing into it to become one. There is a sloka in Sivanandalahiri where this is given as an example for Bhakti”.