Sri Vimeeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ விம்மீஸ்வரர் கோயில், செரபனச்சேரி / Serapanancheri, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

02 September 2017

Planned to visit 3 Shiva temples on 02^nd September 2017, Guru Peyarchi day. After Nerkundram's visit, had went to KizhPadapai Sri Veeratteswarar Temple also.  This temple is on the right side of the Danish Engineering College on the Vandalur to Oragadam bus route.

Moolavar    :  Sri Vimeeswarar

Consort      :  Sri Swarnambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are…

This temple faces east on the roadside with Two Rishabas in front. The temple was built with Gajabirushta Vimana, a specialty of Thondai Nadu.  Suryan on the other side of the Road facing Moolavar. 

ARCHITECTURE

This temple has with sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a shading upa peedam, Pushpa Pushkala Adhisthana built with Stone up to Adhishtanam. The superstructure ie the wall and the  Gajabirushta vimana was built with stone out sides and brick in the middle. The same is in dilapidated condition and covered with a metal sheet after building a temporary wall on the inner side. Mukha mandapa is only with adhisthana. The idols in the deva koshtas are missing. The sanctum walls are with beautiful kumbha panchara. The shobhana / a flight of steps is provided on the side of the mukha mandapa.

The Mukha Mandapa is on a shadanga upa peedam and adhisthana is of padabandha style. A Bas relief of a king in worshiping posture is on one of the Nasikoodu of kapota upa peedam. This may be of Kulothunga Chozha- III.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple was built during the Chozha period. During their period this place was called Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Ootrukattu Kotatho Velimanallur Nattu Peruvanchur alias Rajakesari Nallur. After Kulothunga-III’s 2^nd reign year, this place was called Rajendra Chozha Nallur.  Lord Shiva was called Vimesuramudaya Nayanar.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s, 2^nd reign year inscription records that, Dhanmakon one of the Mandradi of this Village established an endowment of burning a sandhi lamp for which 2 cows are gifted to this temple.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 4^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Chengattu Kottathu Konathi Nattu Urathur alias Kalinga Kulakala Nallur Amanpakkizhaan Chenthamarai Kannan Agamudayal Kannazhwar ( Chenthamari Kannan’s wife ) at Peruvanjur alias Rajendra Chozha Nallur Vimechuramudaya Nayanar, for the same 4 Pazhankasu was received by Vellanthanginan alias Gangadhara Bhattan.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 8^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp by Vayira Nathan, for the same Pazhankasu was received by Thiriyambaha Bhattan Pillaikal ( son’s ..?).

Rajaraja-III’s 6^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning 2 sandhi lamps by the Villagers for which 6 Pazhankasu were received by this Village Kaniyudaya  Siva Brahmins.

Rajaraja-III’s 11^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning two sandhi lamps for which 3 Pazhankasu were received by this Village Kaniyudaya  Siva Brahmins.

Vijayakanda Gopala’s 25^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Alanthuridayan Anda Koothan Vanduvarai Perumal for the same  “Kanda Gopala Pazhampulli Maadai” kasu was received by Veema Bhattan.

Now, the whole temple is in a dilapidated condition. Some donors had done the front shed / Mukha mandapa portion and on the Moolavar. The Vinayagar was installed in a separate temple recently built by a donor. The Sivachariyar pointed out that there are three temple tanks in front of the temple and 150 acres of land and most of them were encroached.

Rajendra Chozha’s inscriptions -(..?)

 Rajara Chozha-III’s inscriptions 

LEGEND

As per the legend, 27 stars worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and hence called Vimeesar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

Since Oru kala pooja is conducted the Gurukkal may be contacted for darshan and further details.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Gurukkal Mahalingam, who has done the pooja for this temple for the past 40 years may be contacted through his mobile 9841336838.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is about a KM off the main road.

On the town bus route, Tambaram / Perungalathur/ Vandalur to Oragadam get down at Serapanancheri.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---