ஞாயிறு – (SUN) – A TEMPLE FOR SUN – NEAR CHENNAI at GYAAYIRU

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 21^st 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)

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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.