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Gnayiru temple as the name states is one among the Navagraha Kshetras around Chennai, dedicated to Sun god. However, the main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva named Pushapathareshwara. Though the temple is centuries old, only few years back this temple has gained proper significance after the renovation work completion.

(Gnayiru temple view)

Route:

From Chennai travel on the Chennai-Kolkata highway (NH 5/GNT road), cross Puzhal, Naravarikuppam, and reach Karanodai.
At the starting point of Karanodai on the NH 5 highway, you get to see a right cutting and the road is named Bazaar main road.
Travel on the Bazaar main road and take a right cutting again before the Canara Bank ATM that is situated on the left side of the road. This place is also adjacent to Chozhavaram.
Now onwards there is no deviation in the route and travel along this same road as it twists and turns. After travelling for approximately 10km, you reach Gnayiru temple.

There are also buses plying to Gnayiru temple from Red hills and Karanodai. The buses reach the doorstep of the temple.

(Above/below: The beautiful scenery enroute Gnayiru)

Temple History:

It is believed that Lord Surya (Sun god) to get rid of the curse he suffered took bath in Gnayiru temple's pond and worshiped Lord Shiva here and obtained vimochana.

Gnayiru is also said to be the birth place of Sangili Naachiyar, wife of Sundaramoorthy Nayanar.

Another significance is that Ganva Maharishi attained mukthi here.

(Entrance to the temple)

(The huge temple pond)

(Well laid footpath inside temple)

(Thiruvodu tree bearing Thiruvodu fruit)

Temple details:

The temple is calm amidst serene atmosphere and Lord Pushparatheswara and the Goddess Swarnambigai are simply captivating. Sun god has a separate sannidhi in front of the main deity Shiva.People gather in large numbers for this sannidhi,especially on Sundays to perform parihara pooja to the Sun god. There are separate sanctums for Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga and Sangili Naachchiaar. There are lot of flowering trees and shrubs that are grown bordering the foot-friendly pathways. The temple campus is very neat and pleasent.

(Above/below: The vast neat green temple campus)

(The tall Nagalingam tree)

(Details of special Sun god pooja days)

Temple significances:

The temple has the Thiruvodu tree from which Thiruvodu is made.
The temple has Nagalingam flowering tree.
The temple also provides total remedy for people with eye ailments.

Iyyapan Temple - Shanmugapuram

On the way back to Chennai, on the Red Hills- Ambattur main road in a place called Shanmugapuram is situated this Iyyapan temple. The temple is very well on the main road and is on the opposite side of Puzhal lake.

(Iyyapan temple view from road)

(18 steps/Pathinettu padi view)

(View of Puzhal lake from temple)

(This trust board is visible onroad for locating the temple)

This temple has 18 holy steps just as Sabarimala and the sanctum of Lord Ayyappa is almost the replica of Ayyappan Sannidhanam in Sabarimala.Through another set of steps,the public can visit the temple. But the “18 steps” is meant for only those who carry Irumudi.There are sannidhis for Kadutha swami, Karuppanna swami, Vinayagar and Maaligaipurathu Amman. Excellent temple in typical Kerala style!

Ragavendra Temple - Thirumullaivoyil

Just half a kilometer from Chennai-Thiruvallur high road in Saraswathi Nagar is situated Lord Ragavendra's Brindavan. This temple has a huge idol of Raghavendra Swami in sitting posture with his Brindavan at the backdrop.

(Ragavendra temple entrance)

(View of Ragavendra Brindavan)

A vast meditating hall, and idols of Desamuthu Maariamman, Ganesha, Lord Muruga and Shiva are also in the hall. A cute marble idol of Sri Krishna adorns the centre of the hall. People throng this temple and sit quietly in meditation. An extra information is that this temple is built by Actor Lawrence Ragavendra.

Vaishnavi Temple - Thirumullaivoyil

The temple is unique with its structure resembling a homely atmosphere but with all divinity.The huge corridor has shrines for Dakshinamoorthy,Ganesha,Ganga devi, and Anjaneya.The main deity is Vaishnavi Devi. Standing like a small girl,this Goddess is decorated with beautiful sarees and flowers. During Navarathri, various alankarams are made for this deity, namely Gayathri, Kali, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, and so on. Here also, people arrive in large numbers for her darshan. There are also Maha Mandapams and Pravachana Mandapams in the temple premises.

(Vaishnavi temple entrance)

Note: Devotees can visit all these temples in half a day if they travel by their own mode of transport.

Vinayaka Chathurthi is one of the most important Hindu festivals that is celebrated in India. Until the late 90's it was only in North India where this festival was grandly celebrated. But it is really happy that even in South India the grand opening and the hype for this festival is gaining momentum.Gone are the days when Vinayaka Chathurthi was celebrated only in individual's homes. Todays trend in South India is that people of many colonies joining together and they sponsor to place huge Ganesha idols in many areas of their cities and towns. The photos uploaded in this blog are an example of what i've said above in few parts of Chennai and in my area too.......May god Vinayaka shower his blessings on all of us.

[(1 and 2): 3 Vinayaka in front of Agastheeswarar temple, Valasaravakkam]