I visited this temple in July 2011.

During random browsing, I came across this post on dharsanam.com about Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Semmenchery. I was surprised that I had never heard of such an ancient temple being right here on OMR despite coming to OMR everyday for the past few years, though the moment I read the name I remembered seeing the temple somewhere. So off I went in search of this temple.

When you’re coming from Madhya Kailash on OMR, this temple is located about a km after Jeppiar group of colleges on the left side of the road. Semmenchery police check post is located right outside it. ‘Kurai thirukkum Govinda’ Sri Srinivasa Perumal says a board facing the main road. The entrance to this temple is through a street parallel to OMR.

On entering the temple, there are sannidhis for Ganesha on the left side and nAgar on the right.

Preceded by the Dwajastambam and Garuda is the presiding deity of this temple – Sri Srinivasa Perumal along with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi.

Other deities in this temple include Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal on the outer wall of the garbagriham and separate sannidhis for tAyAr Alamelumanga, Kalinga Nardana Krishna, Andal, Anjaneyar, Perumal with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi and Alwars.

There is a separate shrine for Navaneeta Krishnar outside the temple.

The mandapam before the garbhagrha has a few old pillars which have sculptures including that of vIra Anjaneya, Hanuman carrying sanjeevi, a couple of Krishna, etc. These pillars prove that this temple is an ancient temple. Even mandapam before the shrines of Alameumanga, Kalinga nardana Krishna and Anjaneyar have a few old pillars. Some old broken pillars were lying on the plot adjacent to the temple as well. Between Alamelumanga and Krishna sannidis was a lone pillar half-broken standing. It had sculptures of Shiva linga and kUrmAvataram among others.

The temple priest said that this 1800-year old temple was built during Narasimha Pallava’s time. Though the pushpa pOdigai indicating that the pillars are of Vijayanagar style of architecture were not present in the pillars, the presence of sculptures of vIra anjanEyA and kUrmAvatAra made me think that these pillars could belong to Vijayanagara period.

The vimAnam has sculptures of all the dasAvatArams on the lower row.

The temple, though small, is really clean and well-maintained.

Devotees pray to the perumAL here for curing health problems related to eyes and for getting child.

Timings of the temple: Till 10:30 in the morning, probably from 7 am. Evening: 4:30 pm to 7:45 pm.