ஞாயிறு – (SUN) – A TEMPLE FOR SUN
– NEAR CHENNAI at GYAAYIRU
An adage in Tamil States
ஞாயிறை போற்றுதும் ; ஞாயிறை போற்றுதும் .
திங்களை போற்றுதும்; திங்களை போற்றுதும்
ADORE THE SUN ; ADORE
THE MOON
The SUN and Moon are deemed to be the STANDING GOGS THAT CAN
BE SEEN. (ப்ரத்யக்ஷ தெய்வம்) . Sun has been worshipped by almost all the civilizations of the world.
A day for SUN (SUNDAY – ஞாயிறு) ; A day for Moon (MONDAY – திங்கள்)
I was at this TEMPLE
(SWARNAMBIKA- SAMEDHA- PUSHPARADHESWARAR - TEMPLE) (ஸ்வர்நாம்பிகா சமேத புஷ்பரதேஸ்வரர் ) at a place called GYAAYIRU (ஞாயிறு) About 35
to 40 kilo meters from Chennai , near REDHILLS (செங்குன்றம் )
The legend says the Lord
SURYA worshipped Shiva I in this place and the a CHOLA king constructed a the
temple to get rid of his blindness. The beauty of the construction is such,
that the rays of SUN fall on the deities during the first week of CHAITRA (சித்திரை ) month (April-14 to 21st April) .
The temple is kept very
neat and tidy and generates peace and
tranquility to visitors.
This place is also the
final resting place of KANVA MAHARISHI , the father of Shakumtala and the mother of Bharata on whom India is
named as Bharat)
This place is also the
birth place of the Famous four of TAMIL THEVAARAM , Sundara’s wife Sangili
Naachiaar.
The temple tank is known
as SURYA THEERTHAM, that helps in
removing eye problems and other ailments due to its medicinal qualities. The
temple authorities have planted many herbs around including the tree representing
different stars of the zodiac.
The STHALA VRUKSHAM IS (ஸ்தல வ்ருக்ஷம்- நாகலிங்க பூ மரம்) ( Nagalinga Poo
maram- (Couroupita guianensis ) The flowers of this tree known Cannon
ball tree , is unique. Their pollen Sack
, Stamen and stigma appears FIVE
HEADED SEPENT guarding SHIVA LINGA (PISTIL) at the centre of the flower.
Common name: Cannon Ball Tree • Hindi: Nagalinga नागलिंग, Tope gola तोप गोला • Kannada: Lingada mara, Nagalingam • Marathi: Shivalingam • Bengali:
Kaman gola • Tamil: நாகலிங்கம் Naagalingam
Botanical name: Couroupita guianensis Family: Lecythidaceae (Barringtonia family)
Botanical name: Couroupita guianensis Family: Lecythidaceae (Barringtonia family)
This large deciduous tropical tree, 75' tall and indigenous to the Amazon
rainforest, is listed as a rare tree and flower in India. The leaves, up to
6" long, are simple with serrate margin; it flowers in racemes which is
cauliflorus; the yellow, reddish and pink flowers are stunning fragrant. These
are 3" to 5" waxy aromatic smelling, pink and dark-red flowers
growing directly on the bark of the trunk. The tree bears, directly on the
trunk and main branches, large globose woody fruits; they look like big rusty
cannonballs hanging in clusters, like balls on a string. Cannon ball trees
usually carry 'CAUTION' signs posted on the trunks to advise people not to
stand close to and directly under the fruits as one can get hurt as they drop
off by themselves. The fruit contains small seeds in a white, unpleasant
smelling white jelly, which are exposed when the upper half of the fruit goes
off like a cover. The long dangling fruity branches give the tree an unkempt appearance.
The hard shells are used to make containers and utensils. Cannon ball flowers
are considered of special significance in Buddhist culture in Sri Lanka. In
Tamil Nadu, it is called Nagalingam flower. The sivalingam shape is visible at
the center of the flower and snake shaped pollen is the specialty of this
flower and it has very good fragrance. This rare flower can be used for Shiva
Pooja
Here under are some photographs taken at the temple. SERPENT worship under
tree is present in all parts of our country and NAGA staues are kept under
trees.
