Gnanagireeswarar Melavalampettai

Madurantakam Saivite Temples

God

Gnanagireeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Gnanambigai, facing south

Other Deities

Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Navagraha

Gnanagireeswarar Melavalampettai is one of the Panchagiri Temples around the area, the others are Vedagiri, Thavalagiri, Sonagiri and Arunagiri. The hill Gnanagiri from which the lord received his name is nearby. Gnanagireeswarar Melavalampettai is a small east facing temple with a large temple tank in the north side. The tank, Bhasma Theertham, with Lotus in it should be a beautiful sight when full.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Bhasma Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Kondrai (Cassia fistula)

History

No information, but Gnanagireeswarar Melavalampettai is definitely a few centuries old.

Legend

Gnanagireeswarar Melavalampettai is said to be older than the Ramayana period. Sidhdhars, Devas, Sages Vibandaga, Gauthama, Arunagiri Nadhar, Arutprakasa Vallalar and others have worshiped here.

Directions

Gnanagireeswarar Melavalampettai is half a kilometer right off the highway when you go from Chennai towards Tindivanam. Take the right at the Melavalampettai Junction which is about 5 kilometers before Madurantakam.

Stay and Food

There are several restaurants on the highway. Manoj Bhavan a little further is a decent place to eat. If you are proceeding towards Tindivanam then Ganesh Bhavan at Acharapakkam is an old and down to earth place for good food.

Saivite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples