Etymology
Velachery was known as Vedashreni (meaning "Abode of Vedas") and Vedanarayanapuram during the Chola period. Eventually, the Tamil word வேள் that represents King or the Leader that also denotes Lord Sri Narasimha Swami (Ref: சிங்கவேள்குன்றம், Ahobilam), was used to denote this place along with the Tamil word சேரி which literally means a place where people gather and hence Velachery (the people who gathered to worship Lord Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy). Besides the Presence of Lord Sri Yoga Narasimhar Swamy's temple,there is also a Shivaalyam or Shiva Temple,as soon as one enter its Garbha Gruha or the Sanctum Sanatorium one can see the inscriptions in the walls of the temple dating back to the 12th century.As it proves to be the name Velachery has been evolved from the Sacred word Vedashreni.
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