Gnanaparameswarar Temple

Overview

Thirunalurmayanam/Thirumeignanam/Mayana Kshetram is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located in Kudavasal, Thiruvanur, Tamil Nadu.  There four temples widely known as Mayana Kshetram and they are Kacchi Mayanam / Thiru Kacchi Ekambam, Thirunalur Mayanam/Thiru Gnana Parameswarar, Thirukkadavur Mayanam and Kazhi Mayanam. In this temple Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of self-manifested Linga.adulated in the psalms of Saivite holy people Tiruganasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. In his Thevaram psalms, holy person Thirugananasambandar sings the Lord's greatness in the accompanying lines. "No abhorrent will touch those steadily droning the Universal's eminence Father gracing from Naalur Mayanam and who squeezed the ten headed Ravana by His one toe furthermore talented him a sword and life." This is the 96th temple on the southern bank of Cauveri applauded in Thevaram songs.  3 time puja is performed in the temple day by day. Celebrations are commended in the month of Purattasi (September-October), Margazhi (December-January) and Masi. The temple is open from open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. what's more, 5.00 p.m. to 8.00.The place, known as Chaturvedimangalam during the Chola days was also known as Naalvediyur being the Tamil version of the Sanskrit word.  The faith is that one worshipping in this temple may become a Vedic Scholar.The place is one of the four Mayanams, the other three being Kachi Mayanam, Kadvur Mayanam and Kazhi Mayanam. There are 4 types of vedas. They are rig veda, yajur veda, sama veda and adarvana veda.Each veda had its own specific teachings in it. Gurugulam was the way of teaching in ancient India. A guru selects and transform a disciple and then only imparts his knowledge in to mind of disciple. Several tests were conducted by guru to check maturity of disciples. People who are learning vedas can visit and worship a temple called gnanaparameswarar temple situated in a place called thirumeignanam.This temple is said to be more than 1000 years old. Amman is called as gnanambigai. One has to travel to thirucherai from kumbakonam. From there one has to travel 2 kilometres in the way to kudavasal. From kudavasal in north direction, thirumeignanam is situated. From there one has to travel half kilometres to reach this temple.

About the Temple

Belonging to the Chola period, the temple is a landmark of all design excellence. This was remodeled long time ago by Chola lord Aditya I. The sanctum sanctorum is square fit as a fiddle and the top is molded as a round ball. Each column talks about the stylish excellence. The presiding deity managing god graces sitting under a Vimana (material in the sanctum sanctorum) called Gajabrushta Vimanam. This is a Mada sort temple.Sannidhis –Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddesses Sri Valli and Deivayanai, Navagraha, Amrutha Ghateswara Linga, Sattanatha Linga, Ekambareswara Linga, Srivizhi Azhagar Linga, Nagaraja, Chandikeshwari, Lord Dakshinamurthi, Athmalinga, Goshtamurtham-Goddess Sri Durga.

Festival

3 time puja is performed in the temple daily. Festivals are celebrated in the month of Purattasi (September-October), Margazhi (December-January) and Masi (February-March).

Significance

Master Shiva graces in the temple as a Swyambu Linga Murthy revered by Sage Abasthamba and the Four Vedas. It is said that a snake at times proceeds onward the head of Shivalinga. People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage alliances, brilliance in education, and all general benefits in life. As token of their gratitude to Lord and Mother Goddess, devotees perform abishek and offer vastras (clothing).Thiru Gnana Sambandhar visited this temple and sung praising the glories of Lord Gnana Parameswarar, in one of his compositions marvellously mentioned about frequently appearing snake which adds the magnificence of the self-manifested Linga positioned in the sanctum sanctorum.  As true to Sambandhar’s narration the presence of snake on the body of Linga is visible very often in this temple.

Address

Sri Gnana Parameswarar Temple,
Naalur Mayanam,
Thirucherai Post – 612 605,
Kudavasal Taluk,
Thanjavur district.