Tapas’ is intense heat with its derivations, zeal, fervour, austerity, asceticism. ‘Vana’ (in Tamil ‘vanam’) means forest. The Taittiriya Upanishad goes on to point out that the higher purpose of tapas is a withdrawal of the mind from hindrances and temptations of the world and flesh and the clarifying of its vision to be able to perceive what is spiritual and true. Hence getting rid of cravings and focusing all the energies of the mind on the Divine Reality is the purest and highest form of tapas.” Thus the scripture places the highest ideal before us by saying ‘Meditation on the Supreme is tapas par excellence’. Such was the ideal the Swami set for his inmates at the ashram
“Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam” is a quiet place, situated on the northern banks of Pennar river, near Thirukovilur in Tamil Nadu. Thapovanam meaning “forest of penance” is today a place of pilgrimage. It is situated within a couple of miles from a sacred town called “Tirukovilur”, meaning a town of sacred temples. Swami Gnananandagiri Swamigal established his modest ashram at Thapovanam, a place which was identified by Swami himself for its spiritual potency. It is believed that Mrigandu Maharishi, centuries ago, undertook penance at this holy place, having cluster of five old mango trees. In the year 1951, an ardent devotee of Gurunathar Sri P.R.Subramania Ayyar dedicated the land – where the present Thapovanam is situated – to Gurunathar and Gurunathar decided to establish the Thapovanam in a place where five mango trees stood and called it “Athyathma Vidhyalayam” in the same year. Paranur Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal in his book ‘My Archavathara Anubavam’ describes that some few years before Gnanananda Thapovanam was established
Sri Vasudeva Brahmam did penance there at the place below these mango trees and Lord Rama and Lakshmana appeared before Sri Vasudeva Brahmam and gave darshan as Trivikrama. Gurunathar, at a later stage told a devotee Sri Narayanan that he used to take bath in River Pennai and sit in Dhyan under this mango trees and the idea of establishing an ashram here was born during one such time.
As the Tamil saying goes ‘Aalayam thozhuvathu saalavum nandru’ (worshipping in a temple is a very good practice) Gurunathar established a temple at Thapovanam to facilitate the people around the place to have darshan and to have daily poojas at the Ashramam. This also helped those who wanted to do dhyana for spiritual experience Gurunathar first did Pradhishta of Gnana Vinayakar and then Gnanaskandar with his own hands and both these murthis were consecrated on 07.02.1958. Then he did Pradhishta of Gnanapureeswarar, Gnanambigai, Gnana Dakshinamurthi and other parivara devtas and these were consecrated on 02.05.1966. After some time Gurunathar established the Sannadhis of Gnana Venugopalan, GnanaMahalakshmi, Gnana Anjaneyar, GnanaBairava, GnanaDurga, Navagarahas and Chandikeshwara. The deities were given chaitanya (power) by Swami through his graceful look and sankalpa, and the deities today shower their “anugraha” to all those devotees who pray and surrender. Swami finally made this Ashram his regular living place, until he attained Mahasamadhi in the year 1974. A shrine of grace has been constructed over his “Samadhi”. Swami did not appoint or nominate any spiritual successor but instead formed the G Trust with 9 trustees to take care of the activities at the Ashram. Even today, every grain of sand at Thapovanam is pulsating with his life and message, and vibrating with his Divine Presence. As he mentioned, that his Samadhi is one of a “Jeeva Samadhi”, meaning that Swami is omnipresent, though not present in physical form among us. The Ashram today attracts devotees and disciples from far and near, where one immerses into “Guru bhakti”. Prayer and worship, through singing of hymns and stress on ” guru bhakti” have been the marked features of life at Thapovanam.
After Mahasamadhi of his Guru, Swami adorned the peetam of Jyotir Mutt for some time before relinquishing the same for undertaking intense penance at Himalayas. After long period of seclusion, swami traveled extensively on foot , spanning the whole of India, Tibet, Nepal, Malaysia, Burma and Sir Lanka. Finally, swami is believed to have returned to Southern India and from around 1966, Swami permanently stayed at Thapovanam. Before that, swami established ashrams at Attyampatti, Siddhilingamadam, Dalmiapuram and also one at Yercaud (established later) known as “Pranavanilayam”.
The Ashram established at Thapovanam by Swami is a special one, managed by Swami himself in a special way. While he insisted on discipline, austerity and devotional fervour, he did not run the ashram according to the popular notions of the organisation of Ashrams. There was freedom from regulations and rules in his presence. True love, purity and total surrender surcharged the atmosphere in the Ashram. Everybody in the Ashram dedicated themselves to “Bhakti” towards their Guru (Swami) and the overall activities followed throughout the day, has the 9 forms of Bhakthi (Navavitha Bakthi) incorporated subtly.
In order to carry on the activities at Thapovanam as hitherto being done in the immediate very presence of Swami, G.Thapovanam Sri Gnanananda Trust created by Swami is continued to be managed by a Board of Trustees. “G.Thapovanam Sri Gnanananda Trust” is a charitable Trust, predominantly involved in Charitable activities including that of feeding the poor, clothes distribution, etc.,.
Poojas are performed under the umbrella of Sadguru Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust which was formed later. Devotees desirous of offering their donations to the lotus feet of Swami Gnananandagiri, may do so by way of donations to the “G.Thapovanam Sri Gnanananda Trust”. Donations to this trust is exempt u/s 80 G of the Income-tax act, 1961. Devotees desirous of performing various poojas can send remittance on the name of Sadguru Swami Sri Gnananandagiri Memorial Trust.
All remittances to Thapovanam can be sent by way of Money order (addressed to the President/Secretary) or by way of Demand Draft payable at Tirukovilur, drawn on either of the Trust name for respective purposes mentioned above.
Devotees desirous of offering donations or performing poojas are welcome to Thapovanam and may also do so online and are requested to contact the Trust office at Thapovanam for stay and other arrangements. Contact over phone can be made between 7.00 am and 1.00 pm and between 3.00 pm and 8.00 pm. All communications may be addressed to
SRI GNANANANDA THAPOVANAM is located on the northern bank of the river South Pennar, 3 km from Tirukoilur, on the Tirukoilur – Tiruvannamalai highway. Quite a number of buses from Madras, Bangalore, Trichy, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Cuddalore and Villupuram touch Tirukoilur from where one can go to Thapovanam by taxi, bus or Traveling by train, one has to alight at Tirukoilur (Villupuram – Tiruvannamlai Meter – Guage line) and take a taxi / Autorickshaw to Thapovanam 4 km away.
| From City (Town) | Distance (in Km) | Approx. Travel time(Bus/Train) |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai (Madras) | 200 | 4 hours 30 min |
| Villupuram | 45 | 1 hours |
| Pondicherry | 75 | 2 hours |
| Chennai (Madras) | 200 | 4 hours 30 min |
| Tiruchirapalli | 175 | 4 hours |
| Tiruvannamalai | 35 | 50 min |
| Cuddalore | 85 | 3 hours |
| Vellore | 90 | 3 hours |
| Bangalore | 220 | 5 hours |
| Salem | 140 | 3 hours |
| Coimbatore | 300 | 6.5 hours |
| From City (Town) | Via | Transport Info |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai (Madras) | Chengalput, Maduranthakam, Tindivanam, Villuppuram, Mambalapattu, Mogaiyur, Thapovanam | Regular buses ply between Chennai – to – Tirukoilur (via Villuppuram). Alight at Tirukoilur, take a town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam. Also, Point – to – Point buses ply between Chennai – to – Villupuram. Take a bus from Villupuram – to – Tirukoilur. Alight at Tirukoilur, take a town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam. Also, Point – to – Point buses ply between Chennai – to – Tiruvannamalai. Take bus from Tiruvannamalai – to – Tirukoilyur (via Veraiyur), alight at Thapovanam. |
| Bangalore | Hosur, Krishnagiri, Oothangarai, Thiruvannamalai, Verayur, Thapovanam | Direct buses ply between Bangalore – to – Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai – to – Tirukoilur (via veraiyur) Alight at Thapovanam (3 km before Tirukoilur); Direct buses ply between Bangalore – to – Villupuram (via Tirukoilur) Alight at Thapovanam OR Alight at Tirukoilur, take town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam |
| Pondicherry | Valavanur, Villuppuram, Mambalapattu, Mogaiyur, Thapovanam | Direct buses ply between Pondicherry – to – Villupuram (via valavanur) Villuppuram-to-Tirukoilur (via Mambalapattu and Mugaiyur) Alight at Tirukoilur, take town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam |
| Vellore | Polur, Thiruvannamalai, Verayur, Thapovanam | Direct buses ply between Vellore – to – Tiruvannamalai And from Tiruvannamalai – to – Tirukoilur (via Veraiyur) Alight at Thapovanam OR Alight at Tirukoilur, take town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam |
| Cuddalore | Panrutti, Madapattu, Thirukovilur, Thapovanam | Direct buses ply betweenCuddalore – to – Tirukoilur Alight at Tirukoilur, take town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam |
| Tiruchirapalli | Perumbalur, Ulundurpettai, Madapattu, Thirukovilur, Thapovanam | Direct buses ply between Tiruchirapalli-to-Tiruvannamalai/Vellore (via Tirukoilur) Alight at Thapovanam OR Alight at Tirukoilur, take town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam |
| Salem | Attur, Kallakurichi, Tirukoilur, Thapovanam | Direct buses ply between Salem – to – Tirukoilur. Alight at Tirukoilur, take town bus/Autorickshaw to Thapovanam |
ROUTE MAP FOR REACHING THAPOVANAM This route map will help you in reaching Gnanananda Thapovanam from various places. Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam is located 3 K.M. from Tirukoilur on the Tirukoilur to Tiruvannamalai bus route
From Chennai BY TRAIN: Chennai to Villupuram. From Villupuram to Tirukoilur (Tirukoilur is situated in Villupuram to Tirupati train route) Thapovanam is situated 5 KM from Tirukoilur Railway Station.
By Bus: Chennai to Villupuram ; Villupuram – Mambazhapattu – Tirukoilur – Thapovanam
By Car: Chennai to Villupuram ; Villupuram – Mambazhapattu – Tirukoilur – Thapovanam
From Madurai BY TRAIN: Madurai – Trichy – Villupuram – Tirukoilur From Tirukoilur to Thapovanam by Bus/auto
By Bus: Madurai – Trichy – Ulundurpet – Madapattu – Tirukoilur
By Car: Madurai – Trichy – Veppur – Aasanur – Elavanasurkottai – Via Byepass Thapovanam
From Bangalore :
BY TRAIN: Bangalore – Tirukoilur
By Bus: Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Uthankarai – Chengam – Tiruvannamalai – Thapovanam
By Car: Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Uthankarai – Chengam – Tiruvannamalai – Thapovanam
From Coimbatore:
BY TRAIN: Coimbatore – Salem – Katpadi – Tiruvannamalai – Tirukoilur
Coimbatore – Erode – Trichy – Villupuram – Tirukoilur
By Bus: Coimbatore – Salem – Kallakurichi – Thiagadurgam – Tirukoilur – Thapovanam
By Car: Coimbatore – Salem – Kallakurichi – Thiagadurgam – Thapovanam (take Tirukoilur bye pass Road)
