Guruji's Arul Mandapam

Swami Gnanananda Giri, the sixth Peetathipathi of Jyothir Mutt, one of the four Amnaya Mutts established by Adi Sankara, not only traveled the width & breadth of our country – Bharath, but also visited Burma & Sri Lanka and finally stayed at Thapovanam on the northern banks of Pennai River near Thirukovilur showering His Grace to the entire mankind. His Chief Disciple SWAMI HARIDHOS GIRI, known familiarly as GURUJI, spread the cult of Nama Sankirthanam all over the world and established this Peetam in the name of His Maser.

In the course of His mission, GURUJI established many Mandalis, Seva Samajams and other Philanthropic institutions throughout the world. With the Blessings of His Guru and with the help of His devotees, He established a trust by name ‘G A Trust’ which has undertaken, here at Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam, Thennangur, the construction of Holy Abode having several Shrines – Maha Shodasi & Sathgurunathar at Madam, Sri Panduranga Rukumayee Alayam, Sri Lakshmi Narayanan Temple, Meenakshi Sundareswarar Alayam, Nama Sankirthana Mandapam, Annadhana Mandapam, Gosala, Home For the Aged, Veda Patasala, etc. These Shrines were consecrated on 9th February 1996. This Holy place is now a ‘Heavenly Abode’ in ‘Bhooloka’.

This ordeal He could accomplish by total surrender to the Holy Feet of His Guru, Swami Gnanananda Giri.
Sri Swami Haridhos Giri shed His mortal coil on 4th September 1994 at Koteeswar near Rudraprayag in the Himalayas by entering into Jalasamadhi but spiritually showering His Bountiful Blessings to all. This Arul Mandapam (memorial) was opened on 6th September 2002 on His Annual Mahapooja day – amidst Nama Sankirthanam by His devotees.

How to visit Thennagur

Raghumayi sametha Pandurangan Temple at Thennangur

Location: Thennangur is located near Vandavasi, 6kms before Vandavasi in the Kanchipuram - Vandavasi route. It can also be reached via Chenglepat and Uthiramerur. In the Chennai-Trichy highway, after Chenglepat and Vijaykanth’s Andal Azhagar College at Mamandur, there is a road towards right to Uthiramerur at Puthahathurai junction. Take that road and pass through Uthiramerur and go beyond till you reach the T junction with Kanchipuram-Vanadavasi road at Manampathy. Take a left there towards Vandavasi and Thennangur is 6 kms before Vandavasi. The temple is visible from the main road itself which is on the right side at about half a km from the main road.

Distance:Chennai (Adayar) to Puthagathurai junction on the GST Road: 64 kmPuthahathurai to Manampathy (via Uthiramerur): 35 kmManampathy to Thennangur: 10 km

Bus Route No. from Chennai
104, 148

Route Map

Thennagur Temple

From that time onwards it had been a dream of swami Haridas Giri to build a temple for the Lord in Thennaangur. He installed the idols from Pandarpur as the main idols. We can also find a 10 ½ feet tall Panduranga and 8 ½ feet high Raghumayi in the broad and well-lit sanctum sanctorum. Closer to this is a panchaloka idol of Lord Varadaraja along with his consorts. Another rare feature of this temple is that we can find an ancient idol of Achutharaya Perumal, brought from Tirupati, which cannot be found anywhere else. Along with these the golden idols worshipped by Swami Haridas Giri is also installed here. The graceful appearance of the Lord in the intricately carved sanctum sanctorum is a feast for the eyes. Yet another distinct feature of this temple is that the Lord is adorned in different attires on different days. It is nija paatha dharisanam on Thursdays, and the Lord gives audience wearing silver kavachas and ornaments on Fridays. On Sundays He appears like a Maharaja of Rajasthan. The graceful appearance of the Lord in the intricately carved sanctum sanctorum is a feast for the eyes. Yet another distinct feature of this temple is that the Lord is adorned in different attires on different days. It is nija paatha dharisanam on Thursdays, and the Lord gives audience wearing silver kavachas and ornaments on Fridays. On Sundays He appears like a Maharaja of Rajasthan.

This Thennaangur temple is an architectural splendor. The 120 feet tall Rajagopuram is built in the South Indian style and the sparkling golden kalasam itself is ten feet high. The 'vimana' above the sanctum sanctorum is designed like that of the Jagannath Temple at Puri in Orissa. The deities have been sculpted in a technique called sila which had its origin in Maharashtra. This temple also houses a few large pillared halls or mantaps. In one of these halls we can find fibreglass paintings of Lord Krishna and also some intricate carvings in fibreglass which cannot be found anywhere in India.

Among the four seats of authority established by Sri Adi Sankara, one is the Jyothir Mutt in Badrinath. The sixth head of this mutt ('peetathipathi') swami.Gnananda Giri entrusted the responsibilities of the ashram to his disciples and went to the Himalayas. One of his chief disciples swami.Haridas Giri was on a pilgrimage around Pandarpur to spread his guru's message. During this time his guru came in his dream and asked him to reach Pandarpur. When swami Haridas Giri reached Pandarpur, the 'Panda' or the priest informed him that he also dreamt of swami Gnanananda Giri asking him to hand over the idols of Lord Panduranga and Goddess Raghumayi to his disciple and it was done accordingly.

To the left of the temple garden, which is behind the temple, is the shrine of Maha Hodasa Devi the chief deity of the Jyothir Mutt. Here the Goddess appears with 12 hands, which depicts that She is the performer of five duties of creation, protection, destruction, extinction and disposition to grace.