Thursday, 6 August 2020

Gnanapureeswarar Temple / Sri Idaichuranathar Temple /திருவடிசூலம் ஞானபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில் Thiru Idaichuram / Thiruvadisoolam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

During the 6th  to 7th  Century, this place was called Idaichuram and the same was corrupted to the present name of Thiruvadisoolam. This is the 27th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam of Thondai Nadu near Chengalpattu. 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar had written that Thirugnanasambandar went to this temple after the Darshan of Sri Marundeeswarar of Thiruvanmiyur. Sekkizhar  mentions the Shiva Linga’s beauty and called as a miracle – ( சாரல் விளங்க விருந்த திருவிடைச்சுரத்தில் வீற்றிருக்கும் பெருமானின் வன்ணத்திரள் அதிசயந்தான் என்னே!!!)

    இருந்த இடைச்சுரம் மேவும் இவர் வண்ணம்  என்னே என்று
  அருந்தமிழின் திருப்பதிகத்து அலர்மாலை கொடுபரவித்
    திருந்துமனம் கரைந்து உருகத் திருக்கடைக்காப்புச் சாத்திப்
    பெருந்தனி வாழ்வினைப் பெற்றார் பேருலகின் பேறுஆனார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

    வரிவளர் அவிர்ஒளி அரவு அரைதாழ
        வார்சடை முடிமிசை வளர்மதி சூடிக்
    கரிவளர் தருகழல் கால்வலன்  ஏந்திக்
        கனல் எரியாடுவார் காடரங்காக
    விரிவளர் தரு பொழில் இளமயில்ஆல
        வெண்ணிறத் தருவிகள் திண்ணென வீழும்
    எரிவளர் இனமணிபுனமணி சாரல்
        இடைச்சுர மேவிய இவர்வணம் என்னே

Moolavar  : Sri Gnanapureeswarar, Sri Idaichura Nathar
Consort    : Sri Govarthanambigai, Sri Imaya madakkodi.

Some of the important features of this temple are….
The Temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram built during recent years. The balipeedam and Rishabam, with a small mandapam are on the east side. There is a moat arrangement around the sanctum sanctorum, this may be due to the increase of outside ground level. Moolavar is of Swayambhu – Maragatha lingam (?)- a precious green stone (the Archakar has demonstrated by keeping the karpoora jyothi on the back side of the Shiva Linga). In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Vishnu Durgai.

Moolavar and Ambal sannidhi vimanas are constructed under the Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal’s pon vizha period.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sri Bramandeswarar and his consort, Navagrahas. In the inner prakaram moorthangal of Naagars, Naalvar, Ganapathi, Sri Valli Devasena Sri Subramaniar, Bhairavar and Suryan.

Villenthiya velan/ Murugan on the right side of moolavar keeping the right leg on the mayil vahanam ( a relief  ) looks cute. Ambal in the form of Cow milked on Lord Shiva and worshiped. Gowthama Maharishi and Sanath Kumaras worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the inscriptions, this place was called Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Kalathur Kottathu Valla Nattu Thiruvidaichuram. Lord Shiva was called Thiruvidaichuram Udayar and Thiruvidaichuramudaya Nayanar, and Ambal was called Imayakodiammai.

The temple was built during the Paramesuvaraman-I period. 15 Inscriptions are recorded in this temple.  The inscriptions belong to Kulothunga Chozha-I,  Vikrama Chozha-I (1128 CE), Rajanaraya Sambuavaran-I (1340 CE), Viajayakanda Gopalan, Vijayanagara Kings Viruppanna & Bukkan-II, and Achutha Rayar.

The Inscriptions mainly record the gift of Lands, Impon Urchavar for Ambal, and the burning of perpetual lamps. A written manuscript also describes the contributions of Kulothunga Chozha.

An inscription (AR 347 of 1906) regards the lighting of Ambal sannadhi. The Mahamandaleswara Jalaka Thirumalayadeva  Maharayar period inscription (AR 336 of 1908) records the endowment of lighting a perpetual lamp and Naivedyam to Lord Shiva of this temple. The Inscription (AR 346 of 1908) records the construction of a sanctum sanctorum for Ambal.

The inscriptions at Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple.....
A 13th Century inscription mentions as Vanavan Mahadevi Chathurvedimangalathu Thiruchuramudaiya Nayanar.

On the west wall outside, a 13th-century inscription records the endowment of a perpetual lamp to Vanavanmadevi Chathurvedi Mangalathu Thiruchuramudaiya Nayanar.

Another inscription of the same period, Sundarapandiyan’s inscription records the endowment of two perpetual lamps for which 60 cows were donated.

In the same place, Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 33rd-year reign inscription records the endowment of a sandhi lamp.

Another 13th-century inscription on the north wall of the temple records the endowment of a perpetual lamp for which 32 cows were donated. 

Once there was a Fort and this area was ruled by the regional kings Kathavarayan and Sethurayan. A palm leaf manuscript is available at The Government Oriental Manuscript Library-Anna 

LEGENDS
As per the legend, the shepherd observed that one of his cows used to shed milk on a particular place every day. It was informed to the villagers. When the place was completely surrounded by bushes and shrubs, the villagers cleared the area and found a swayambhu Maragatha Shiva Linga. The Cow is none other than ma Parvati, who came to earth as a cow and worshiped Lord Shiva.

In another Legend, on the way to Thirukazhukundram, Thirugnanasambandar took rest at this place. Lord Shiva, in the form of a shepherd, offered him milk. When the shepherd asked him the purpose of this travel, Thirugnanasambandar told him he was on a pilgrimage to visit all the Shiva temples. The Shepherd told him that there was a temple nearby and guided him up a temple tank and disappeared. Thirugnanasambandar realized that the shepherd is none other than Lord Shiva and sang as “Idaichuranathar”—in which- idai means mid way (Lord Shiva disappeared in the middle way)       

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Masi Magam (Feb- March) and Panguni Uthiram (March–April). The Bangles festival will be conducted to Ambal, Chitra pournami in (April–May), Krithigai, Pradosham, Mahashivaratri, Thai Poosam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs and 12.00 hrs and between 16.00 hrs and 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
Gurukkal Chellappa may be contacted for temple timings, pooja, etc., through his mobile number, 9444948937.

HOW TO REACH :
All the Govt and Private buses from Chengalpattu to Thiruporur pass through this village.
Thiruvadisoolam is about 9 km from Chengalpattu and 6 km from Chengalpattu – Thirukazhukundram  Koot road, 38 km from Tambaram, and 61 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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