Gnanaparameswarar Temple,
Thiru Naalur Mayanam – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has stucco images of Rishabaroodar flanked Parvathy, Murugan, Vinayaga and Sambandar. Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen in front of the entrance arch facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Gnana Parameswarar / Palasavananathar / Mayanathu Parama Siva Swamy / Mayanathu Moolathanathu Peruman and is facing east.
Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The Sanctum is square in plan and the vimana over the sanctum is of hemispherical shape. Sun rays fall on Shiva Lingam on the 3rd, 4th and 5th days of Tamil month Chithirai. Nardana Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location.
There is a sculpture on the wall of the sanctum, showing a Chola King worshipping a Shiva Lingam and Nataraja near to it. The Chola King is believed to be Aditya Chola. Mother is called as Gnanambigai / Periyanayaki / Brihannayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam to the left side of the Sanctum. There is a separate shrine for Saint Thirugnanasambanthar in the Maha Mandapam.
There are idols and shrines for Somaskanda, Utsava Idols, Kumbhakarna Vinayaga, Musukuntha Chakravarthy, Romesa Maharishi, Nalvar, Bhairavar, Chandran, Arunachaleswarar, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Saneeswarar, Bairavar, Maha Lakshmi, Swarna Vinayagar, Dakshina Kailasanathar, Uthira Kailasanathar, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Suryan and Navagrahas in the temple premises.
Lingams of Amirthakadeswarar, Sattanathar, Ekambareswarar and Veezhi Azhagar can be seen in the western prakaram. Naga Idols, Chandikeswarar, New Dakshinamoorthy, Athma Lingam can be seen next to it. Theerthams associated with this temple are Gnana Theertham and Chandra Theertham. Gnana Theertham can be found outside the temple premises. Sthala Vrikshams are Vilvam Tree and Palasu Tree.
