Divine Audience
Sevippathu (Tamil: sevi = to hear/attend to/worship + pathu = verbal noun; or from sevai = service/worship + pathu; 'to seek and be received in divine presence') refers to the act of seeking a formal audience with or reverentially bowing before the deity, Ācārya, or elder devotee. It carries the sense of 'looking at the person with deep spiritual awe' — a full-attention, devotion-laden encounter.
More Than Bowing
Ordinary Tamil uses vaṇaṅkuvathu or kumbiduvatu for bowing. Sevippathu is elevated: it implies not just a physical gesture but a complete orientation of attention and surrender. When a devotee 'does sevippathu' to the Ācārya, they are acknowledging the Ācārya's divine authority and their own position as a recipient of grace.
Temple Sevai
Sevai (derived from the same root) is the standard term for the various worship services (darśana) at which the deity is seen and worshipped. Thiruvanapandal sevai, aravanal sevai, etc. are specific service occasions at Śrī Raṅgam and other temples where the deity grants audience in particular forms.