Sri Vimeeshwarar Temple, Padapai

 

Moolavar: Sri Vimeeshwarar (Vinmeengal Eshwarar)
Amman: Sri Swarnabigai
Place: Serapanancheri

Serapanancheri is a small village located near Padappai on the Tambaram-Walajabad road in Kanchipuram district.

A good 2000 years old temple almost in ruins.

During the Rathasapthami time Lord Surya (Sun god) who is the head of navagrhas and provider of health while turning his chariot from south to north (Utharayana kalam) himself found this Shiva temple and came down to earth, created a pond and had his bath in it and prayed to this lord to wash off his sins and dhoshas. Hence this place is very powerful to cleanse all sins and dhoshas as it has helped the Surya bhagawan himself to cleanse his dhoshas.

As Sun being one of the celestial bodies (celestial bodies are called as Vinmeengal in Tamil) came down to pray here this lord is called Vinmeengal Eshwarar (who is the ruler of all 27 star constellations) and in later days turned to be pronounces as Vimeeshwarar.

The name of the goddesses here too has a beautiful history – Once Lord Sukran (one of the navagrha deva) prayed to the devi to get a special place in this temple and wanted to remove mangalya dhosam of ladies who come to pray here. That time the Devi appeared in front of him and removed a golden ornament from her neck and gave it him and told that when the head of navagrahas Suraya bhagawan himself has come in person and prayed here and hence there is no need for Sukran to get a special place here and she also told him that the sanidhyam of navagrahas also belongs to lord shiva himself. Hearing this Sukran bowed to the goddess devi, received the golden (Swarna) ornament and requested her to be in this place as Swarnabikai. Also, he requested her to and bless the people who come here with abundance in gold and prosperity and she agreed to so and stayed at this place as Swanabhikagi.

In between Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram there are many Shiva temples in the form of Thunganai (sleeping elephant) form where the main gopuram on the sanctum will be in a semi-circle form. This temple is the 18th temple in that series. The Mannivakkam Mannishwarar and Serapanancheri Vimeeshwarar temple both have been built by the same sculptor.

The sivalingam in the Vimeeshwarar temple is around 6 feet in height, towards the left of the sivalingam is the Devi Swarnambikai facing the South. There is a standing form of Shiva in front of the lord on which looks like as if he is going to walk and come from the stone…indeed very beautiful to see.

This temple is unique in another aspect; it has 2 large Nandhis unlike other Shiva temples where you just have one Nandhidevar

It is believed that if you pray to the lord and both the nandhis for 3 continues Pradhosham and light a deepam with ghee you will be blessed with a boy child

In AD 1182 it was discovered that both Tamil and Grantha scripts inscribed stones have been laid around the sanctum.

The other speciality in this place is that during the tamil month of Masi ( Feb /Mar) the Sun directly enters the Santum and falls on the Sivalingam as if he is praying like how he did during Rathasapthami.

Location:
Sri Vimeeshwarar Temple, Padapai