Thiruvadisoolam - Gnanapureeswarar Temple

Thiruvadisoolam Arulmigu Gnanapureeswarar Temple, historically known as Thiruvidaichuram, is one of the celebrated 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams immortalized in the 7th-century Tevaram hymns composed by Saint Thirugnanasambandar. Tucked away in a tranquil forested valley near Chengalpattu in Tamil Nadu, this ancient temple is famous for the divine miracle of Lord Shiva disguised as a young cowherd (Idaiyan) serving cool curd milk to an exhausted Saint Sambandar.

Featuring a rare elephant-back shaped apsidal (Gajaprishta) granite vimanam, an emerald-tinted (Maragatha) Swayambhu Lingam, fine Chola pillar carvings, and the sacred Madhura Theertham tank, Thiruvadisoolam is a hidden spiritual gem. Devotees visit this sacred sanctuary to pray for educational wisdom, mental tranquility, and relief from karmic heat.

Lord Shiva's Cowherd Manifestation to Saint Sambandar (Idaichuranathar)

According to the Sthala Puranam, when Saint Thirugnanasambandar was traveling through the dense forest hills of Thondai Nadu under the scorching midday sun, he felt overwhelmed by extreme thirst and physical exhaustion. Seeing His beloved child-saint's plight, Lord Shiva transformed Himself into a young cowherd (Idaiyan) carrying a clay pot of cool, sweet curd milk. The cowherd offered the milk to Sambandar, quenching his thirst, and guided him to a shady stone grove beneath the hill. When Sambandar asked for his name, the cowherd smiled radiantly and vanished into a self-manifested Shiva Lingam. Overjoyed by Lord Shiva's personal grace, Sambandar composed his famous 1st Thirumurai Tevaram decad beginning with "Variyaru Thiraikoyil", extolling the Lord as Idaichuranathar ("The Lord of the Cowherd Forest").

Emerald Tinted Swayambhu Lingam (Maragatha Lingam)

The central Swayambhu Lingam at Thiruvadisoolam is carved out of a rare natural stone with a distinct emerald green hue (Maragatha Pachai). When ritual milk Abhishekam is poured over the deity, the Lingam emits a luminous silky green radiance, attracting thousands of pilgrims and gemstone enthusiasts.

Goddess Gnanambigai (Goddess of Supreme Knowledge)

Goddess Parvati performed intense penance at Thiruvadisoolam to attain supreme spiritual knowledge (Jnana). She is enshrined here as Goddess Gnanambigai. Students and scholars offer special lotus flower garlands to Goddess Gnanambigai on Wednesdays to seek academic brilliance and memory power.

This sacred shrine is enshrined in the 1st Thirumurai of the Tevaram by Saint Thirugnanasambandar.

• Tevaram Hymn by Saint Thirugnanasambandar (1st Thirumurai, Decad 78):

> "வரியார தருதிரை சூழ் இடைச்சுரத்து > எரியாரும் மழுவேந்தி ஆடும்பிரான் > கரியாரும் மிடற்றானை எம்மானைக் கண்டேற்கு > அரியாரும் இன்பம் அமைந்தவாறே." > > Translation: "At Thiruvidaichuram surrounded by waving forest trees, the Lord who holds the radiant axe dances in divine joy! My heart is filled with rare eternal bliss upon beholding the blue-throated Lord!"

The temple is also extolled in Sekkizhar's 12th-century Periya Puranam.

• Kulothunga Chola I Inscriptions: Epigraphical surveys by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) record stone inscriptions carved into the inner Gajaprishta Garbhagriha walls. Inscriptions belonging to Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) document land grants (Devadana) for maintaining daily milk offerings (Kheer Abhishekam) and feeding pilgrims.
• Vijayanagara Patronage: Inscriptions detail 16th-century Vijayanagara grants for constructing the outer Rajagopuram and Madhura Theertham steps.

• Apsidal (Gajaprishta) Architecture: The main Garbhagriha vimanam is built in the rare Chola Gajaprishta (curved elephant-back) style.
• Emerald Gemstone Properties: Geological examination confirms the high chlorite/amphibole mineral composition of the Swayambhu Lingam, giving it its natural emerald green sheen under liquid illumination.

• Four Daily Kala Poojas: Conducted as per Kamika Agamic rites: Kalasanthi (8:00 AM), Uchikalam (12:00 PM), Sayarakshai (5:30 PM), and Ardha Jamam (8:00 PM).
• Curd Milk Abhishekam & Curd Rice Prasadam: Daily ritual offering of fresh curd milk and curd rice prasadam, commemorating Lord Shiva's cowherd miracle for Saint Sambandar.
• Gnanambigai Vidya Pooja: Special Wednesday worship for students offering lotus flowers to Goddess Gnanambigai.

• Best Months: October to March (pleasant winter climate ideal for exploring forest hill shrines)
• Major Festivals:
• Sambandar Curd Milk Vizha (Chithirai month / April–May): Reenactment of the cowherd miracle.
• Maha Shivaratri (Feb–March): Four-kala night long abhishekam and Veda parayanam.
• Navaratri Festival (Sept–Oct): 9-day celebration at Goddess Gnanambigai shrine.

• Tevaram Thirumurai Canon (1st Thirumurai by Saint Thirugnanasambandar)
• Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar
• ASI South Indian Inscriptions (Vol. III, Inscriptions of Thiruvidaichuram)
• HR&CE Devasthanam Archives, Arulmigu Gnanapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvadisoolam