Gnanapureeswarar Temple,
Thiruvadisoolam – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east, but the entrance is facing towards south with five tiered rajagopuram. There is a shrine for Varasiddhi Vinayaga, located outside the temple on the left side of the Rajagopuram. The temple has two prakarams. Balipeedam and Nandi can be found facing towards the sanctum in the eastern side of the outer prakaram. The Temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam.
Vinayaga and Murugan can be seen on the either side of the entrance of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Gnanapureeswarar / Idaichura Nadhar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The Shiva Linga is made of Maragatha (Emerald) stone. The actual colour and glow of the Lingam will be clearly visible when honey ablution is performed.
There is a beautiful relief of Murugan with his spear and his right leg on his peacock mount on the right side of the sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum is of Agazhi type. It is surrounded by a moat like formation on all the 4 sides. Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location.
Mother is called as Govardhanambikai / Imaya Madakkodi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in maha mandapam on the left side of the sanctum. There is a shrine for Valampuri Vinayagar in the southern side of the outer prakaram. There is a shrine for Brahmandeswarar (in the form of Lingam) along with his consort Brahmandeswari in the eastern side of the outer prakaram.
Three trees namely Neem, Vilvam and Arasu intertwined together can be seen near the Brahmandeswarar Shrine. Neem represents Mother Parvathy, Vilwam represents Lord Shiva and Arasu represents Vinayaga. Devotees worship the trees for unity in family and those separated will be reunited. There is a south facing shrine for Lord Murugan in the eastern side of the outer prakaram.
Shrines of Nalvar, Sthala Vinayaga, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Kala Bhairavar, Dwara Ganapathy, Muthukumara Swamy and Surya in the temple premises. Theertham associated with this Temple is Madhura Theertham. The tank from where Lord Shiva disappeared still exists and is called Katchi Kulam. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam Tree. It is situated on the southern side in outer prakaram. There is a snake pit that resembles like Vinayaga near to the Vilwa tree.
