Sri Pushparatheswarar Temple, Gnayiru Village, Thiruvallur

Moolavar: Sri Pushparatheswarar

Amman: Sri Sornambigai

A vey old and beautiful temple in the village called Gnayiru named after the Sun God. It is one of the Pancha Bhaskara kshetram. “Pancha” means five, and this is one of the five temples where sun god prayed here for relief from the curse he got from lord brahma., 

The village has an interesting Sthalapuranam for the temple. Surya Bhagwan had been cursed by Lord Brahma. Because of this curse Sanjana Devi, the wife of Sun God who is the daughter of Vishwakarma, though was happy with her husband, at one stage she felt that she couldn’t bear his heat any longer. So, she left him after leaving her duplicate in her place whom she created from her own shadow (Chaya Devi). When Surya realized the truth, he prayed to Lord Siva at the Arunachaleswarar Temple to unite him again with his wife. 

While circumambulating the shrine he saw a light which fell on him by way of blessings and then moved away. Intrigued, he followed the light till it reached the village of Gnayiru. Here he came across a beautiful pond, filled with huge lotuses, some of which even had 1,000 petals. Fascinated, Surya got into the water to offer his prayers to lord Shiva. Touched by Surya's devotion, Lord Siva appeared as a Lingam on one of the lotuses and cured him. Filled with joy and gratitude Surya built a temple for the Lingam, in Gnayiru village. As the lord appeared here on a lotus in the form of a lingam he is called Pushparatheswarar. Surya was also bestowed with an Akshaya Paathram with which he fed thousands of devotees, who came to the temple every year, in search of remedies for their ailments. They believe the Lord here will relieve them of pain and shower prosperity on them.

This temple is one among the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) for Suryan (Sun). 

The Navagraha temples around Chennai are as follows:

Pushparatheswarar Temple, Gnayiru Gramam (Suryan Sthalam)

Bheemeshwarar Temple, Mudichur (Chandran Sthalam)

Agastheeswarar Temple, Villivakkam (Chevvai Sthalam)

Karaneeswarar Temple, Saidapet (Budhan Sthalam)

Tiruvalleeswarar Temple, Tiruvalidhaayam, Padi (Guru Sthalam)

Velleeswarar Temple, Mylapore (Sukran Sthalam)

Devi Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu (Rahu & Kethu Sthalam)

This temple is associated with Sundaramurthy Nayanar and Sangili Nachiyar. It is a birth place of Sangili Nachiyar. Gnayiru village has been praised by Sekkizhar in Periya Puranam. Yet there is a debate whether this is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams or not. Also,this place is the final resting place of Shri Kanva maharishi (foster Father of Shakunthala)

Sage Agasthiyar, the author of Adityahrudayam is believed to have stayed here and worshipped Lord Shiva. Adityahrudayam is a sloka recited by Agasthiyar to Lord Rama in the battlefield before the fight with Ravana. The sage teaches Lord Rama the procedure of worshipping Suryan for strength and to gain victory over the enemy. Reciting this sloka of about 30 verses every day is said to be highly beneficial.

It is believed that every Tamil new year Lord Suriya in the form rays fall on the shivalingam and Ambal during the first 7 days of the tamil New Year (April).

The temple has a four tiered small rajagopuram as the entrance. The praharam with garden and the trees are beautifully maintained and the place is very calm and serene.

The huge 'Thiruvodu ' tree is the sthala vriksham here.The sannidhi of Pushparatheswarar faces east.There is a separate sannidhi for mother Swarnambigai on the left side. There is a separate sannidhi for Lord Sun facing the sannidhi of Lord Pushparatheswarar.

Contact: The temple Kurukal Krishnaswamy can be reached at 9952224822

Location: Sri Pushparatheswarar Temple, Gnayiru Village, Thiruvallur