The Araiyar Sevai is a very unique offering enacted in certain Sri Vaishnava temples in Tamil Nadu such as Srirangam, Srivaikuntam, Srivilliputtur and Tirukkurugur (Alvar Tirunagari). It was also performed in Tirumalai (Tinipati) and also in Kanchipuram, which are important Sri Vaishnava centres.

The Araiyars who provides this service (sevai) in these temples sing the devotional hymns of the `Nalayira Divya Prabandha` i, e, the four thousand hymns composed by the Alvars or the Vaishnava saints together with some gestures called `abhinaya`. The performers of this unique dance form were very experienced in sacred Vaishnavite lore, especially the commentaries of the hymns of the Alvars.

The Araiyars claim themselves to be the descendents of Nathamuni, the first preceptor (acharya) of Sri Vaishnavism. It is said that they collected the four thousand verses (pashuratnas) of the Alvars and also set them to music. This is a hereditary institution where the training is given from father to son and it is usually the eldest son who is trained specially. One needs to undergo a rigorous training for twelve to eighteen years. This is provided before a person is allowed to perform the Araiyar Sevai in the temples.

These Araiyars wear unique conical headgear and garlands during the performance at the temple. But they never wear any special costume for this occasion. They sing to the along with the beating of cymbals. The kings of the ancient Tamil Nadu provided patronage to the Araiyars and they were also respected very for their expertise in this dance form. They also enjoyed a special status in the temple hierarchy. But unluckily, this unique and beautiful art form is now slowly fading away and proper patronage is needed to keep this dance form alive for the future generation.