Sri Govardhanaambigai sametha Gnanapureeswarar Temple - Thiru Idaichuram.

Sri Govardhanaambigai sametha Gnanapureeswarar Temple - Thiru Idaichuram.

Raja Gopuram

Location

The temple is on the road connecting Chengalpattu and Thirupporur. Thiru Idaichuram can either be accessed from Thirupporur at about 18 kms or from Chengalpattu about 9 kms. The address is "Sri Gnanapureeswarar Temple, Tiruvadishoolam-603 108 (Tiru Idaisuram), Chengalpat". The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Since the location of the temple is present inbetween (idai) the hills and since Easwaran came in the form of a Edayar and blessed the place is called as idai easwaram.

Sanctum

The main deity Sri Gnanapureeswarar is seen facing east from a small, beautiful sanctum. The deity is made of Maragatha (dark green) stone with a square aavudai facing east.  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. Lord Shiva is blessing us as a swambu murthy from this temple.

Inner Praharam

Beautiful inner praharam is styled with Ahazhi surrounding the sanctum. The inner praham has a separate shirine for mother Govaradhnambikai.  Here, Govaradhnambikai has one foot backward and one forward as if a in walking posture. The shrines for the Nalvar,  Ganapathy, Lord Subramanyar with his consorts, Chandikeswarar, Kala Bairavar, Dwara Ganapathy MuthukumaraSwamy and Sun God are housed in the inner praharam.  Lord Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Maha Vishnu Durga are present as Koshta moorthies.

Architecture

The temple looks ancient and sobre amidst the serene atmosphere.  The raja gopuram for the temple has been recently constructed. The rajagopuram is a five tier gopuram as seen in above.  There are shrines for Varasiddhi Vinayaka, Lord Brahmmandeswarar and Mother Brahmmandeswari in the outer praharam. The temple is facing south. The temple plates describe the work of Kulothunga Cholan.

The vilvam present inside the temple near the gopuram is unique with 11 leaves.  The three trees Neem, Vilvam and Arasu are bound together and is present near the east enterance.

Sthala Viruksham & Theertham

The Sthala Viruksham here is Vilvam, which is on the eastern part of the temple. The Theertham for the temple is Madhura Theertham.

Importance

• The temple is about 2000 year old.
• This temple is one among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams.
• The temple is praised by Saint Tirugnana Sambandar in Thevaram.
• 11 faced Vilvam is an important aspect of the sthala viruksham. The vilvam is as seen below.

Legend

Saint Tirugnanasambandar, took a pilgrimage to visit the various Sivaalayams across the country. Sambandar had taken a vow of having the dharshan of Lord Shiva, everyday before taking any food. During his pilgrimage to Shiva temples, he felt terribly hungry and tired while passing through this place.  Sambandar took bath in the nearby pond and rested on the banks of the pond thinking about the greatness of Shiva. Lord Shiva was overwhelmed with joy and disguised as a yadhava boy, approached Sambandar with food in a mud pot and asked Sambandar, Who are you in this forest area?. Sambandar answered that he is on a pilgrimage to shivaalayams. The disguised yadhava offered food to Sambandar. However Sambandar thanked the boy and politely refused the food. He said that he will not take food without the dharshan of Lord Shiva. The boy immediately said that there is a shiva temple nearby and invited the saint to the temple. Saint followed the boy who stopped near a tank, smiled and disappeared.  Lord Shiva granted darshan as a shepherd to Sambandar and the overwhelmed Sambandar sang in parise of the lord.

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AJBS