Srinivasa Perumal Temple,
Semmanchery – Legends
Sownaka Maharishi prayed to Lord Vishnu for his eternal
presence here:
As
per Karna Parampara, there lived a maharishi called Sownakar who
was also a staunch devotee of Lord Maha Vishnu. On his way to worship Sthala
Sayana Perumal in Thiru Kadal Mallai Divya Desam (now known as Mahabalipuram),
Sownaka maharishi reached a village called Serumanancheri, surrounded by beautiful
water streams and fertile paddy fields. After completing his daily poojas and
rituals with great devotion,
Sownaka
maharishi wanted to visit Perumal Kovil (temple) and offer prayers. He enquired
the villagers about the existence of Perumal Kovil in Serumanancheri. Villagers
responded that there was no Perumal Kovil in Serumanancheri. On hearing
this, Sownaka maharishi felt very sad and started to do tapas, in a
mango farm in the village, towards Lord Maha Vishu. Impressed with the supreme
devotion and divine tapas,
Lord Maha
Vishnu, along with Sridevi and Bhudevi, appeared before Sownaka
maharishi and blessed him. Sownaka maharishi offered sincere prayers
to Lord Vishnu and requested the Lord to be in Serumanancheri
village forever along with Sridevi and Bhudevi so as to remove the
sorrows of his devotees.
Lord
Maha Vishnu obliged the wish of Sownaka maharishi and continued his presence in
Serumanancheri village. This Serumanancheri village is now called as
Semmencheri. Lord Srinivasa, as Kurai Theerkum Govindan in this
temple, blesses his devotees, removes their sorrows and fulfills their desires
as committed by the Lord himself to Sownaka maharishi.
Narasimha Pallava prayed Vishnu for Rains:
The
story goes that once upon a time, there was famine at this place and the
Pallava king, Narasimha Pallava, prayed and obtained the blessings of Srinivasa
Perumal to help relieve the pains of the people. Pleased with his prayers, Lord
Srinivasa is said to have appeared before the king and brought rains to this region. As
a result, the belief is that the Lord fulfills the wishes of all devotes who
come here and offer prayers, with sincerity, at this temple.
Pallava King regained his Eye Sight by Praying to the
Lord:
It is
said that a Pallava king who was ruling this part of the country lost his eye
sight, after which he had worshipped Lord Srinivasa Perumal here and got back
his eye sight. Many people having problems with their eye sight take bath in
this temple pond and worship the Lord here to get recovered.