It is a famous Vishnu temple near Trichi, India. An unusual thing about this temple is that mentally challenged people are taken to the temple and kept around it for years, in the hope that God will cure the illness. The etymology of the name derives from "Gunam" (Cure) and "Seelam" (Place), meaning the place in which all illness are cured. This temple is around 20 miles from Trichi.
 

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History 

Of the Vishnu Temples, Gunaseelam stands out as the first and foremost among the Abhimana Sthalams, just like Srirangam being the prime among the 108 Divya Desas. The deity of Thirumalai Thirupathi, Sri Thiru Venkatamudaiyan, sung by many a saintly poet, called Alwars, and even by Elango Adigal in his Silappadikaram, appeared as fruit for the ardent prayer of Maharishi Gunaseelar in this small village, situated on the outskirts of Tiruchirapalli.
 

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Mythology

The village itself attained the name of Gunaseelam after the Maharishi. Gunaseelam is also called the South Tirupathi, and devotees submit their offerings as part of their prarthanas made to Lord Srinivasa, the Lord of Seven Hills at Gunaseelam Lord's altar. The scepter that the Lord holds in his right hand is the instrument with which he cures the mental and physical afflictions of the ailing and alleviates the distressed from their sufferings.

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The Temple Architecture

The existing temple for Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathy at Gunaseelam was constructed as a small one by a Chola King, Gnana Verma, as desired by the God. The God also desired and expressed to the Chola King that He will have his temple constructed in a grand and big manner in Kali Yuga after 5000 years, with the offerings of the common devotees.
 

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 Festival

Brahmotsavam : Hundreds of devotees witnessed the `tiruther' festival at Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple at Gunaseelam and worshipped the deity on the occasion. The festival signifies the ninth day celebration of the `brahmothsavam' currently on at the temple. The temple car, with the processional deities, Sri Srinivasan and Sri Alamelumanga Padmavathy, was taken around the outer `praharam' of the temple.
 

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