Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam

“Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam” is a quiet place, situated on the northern banks of Pennai 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. Swami attained Mahasamadhi in the year 1974 (January). While Swami’s idol at Manimandapam is itself the symbol of the Swami as Dakshinamurti, the Mahalinga consecrated on top of Swami’s Samadhi per his instructions (to devotees well before his Samadhi) is the symbol of God’s coming into His creation and equally the symbol of the creatures passing, his departure into God.