Sri Gnanapureeswarar Temple (Thiruvidaichuram),
Thiruvadisoolam – The Temple
This
temple, one of the 275 Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalams, is in a
beautiful surrounding in the midst of hills in a serene village full of
greenery and it is neither in a dilapidated state nor in a good shape. There is
a small Vinayagar temple just outside the temple. The ground level of the entrance
is slightly down. The temple entrance is south facing with no Rajagopuram in
the past and the shrine of Goddess is facing the entrance. This is an ancient
Chola temple about 2000 years old built by the early Cholas. The temple has
been sung by Gnanasambandar. The temple had a Rajagopuram built very recently.
It was also a Mottai koil built by early Cholas.
In the
outer praharam, Shrine for Valampuri Vinayagar is located. Shrines for
Brahmaandeswar in the form a lingam and Brahmaandeswari are present in the eastern
side of praharam. Nearby is the Balipeetham, west facing Nandhi and three trees
Neem, Vilvam and Arasu bound together is believed to represent Lord Shiva,
Mother Ambica and Lord Vinayaka. Worshipping the trees will ensure
unity in family and those separated will have a re-union. . The Sthala
Vriksham is Vilvam. In the east praharam there is a shrine for Lord Subramanyar
facing south and in the South praharam, there is a snake pit that looks like a Vinayagar.
There is
a beautiful inner praharam and we can see the Agazhi style of the sanctum
sanctorum there. Here, the shrines for the Nalvar, Sthala Ganapathy, Lord
Subramanyar with his consorts, Chandikeswarar, Kala Bairavar, Dwara Ganapathy Muthukumaraswamy
and Sun God are present; also Brahma, Maha Vishnu (Goddess Parvathi came here
with her brother Maha Vishnu to worship Lord Shiva), Durga are present as
Koshta moorthies.
Madhura
Theertham is the Temple Tank of this Temple. The tank from where Lord Shiva disappeared
still exists. The structure of this temple is unusual, looking like an old
village house when viewed from outside. There are beautiful stone pillared
mandapams inside the temple. The ceiling is a bit lower and the whole mandapam
allows limited sunlight. The main deity Sri Gnanapureeswarar is seen facing
east from a small, beautiful sanctum. The deity is made of Maragatha (dark
green) stone and hence called as Maragatha Lingam, which is not too visible to
make out while having Dharshan.
It is
said that the actual color and the glow of this Maragatha Lingam will clearly
be visible when ‘Then Abishegam’ (Honey Abishegam) is performed to the deity. The
Goddess Sri Govardanambikai is seen facing south. One can have Dharshan of both
the God and Goddess by standing in the same place. Inside the temple, there is
a mandapam in front of the Goddess Shrine with many pillars but with no
intricate sculpture works. The Goddess is called Govarthanambihai (Go means
cow) since she came as Kamadhenu, poured milk on the lingam and did the worship
of Lord Shiva.
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