Sri Pushparatheswarar Temple Chennai, Tamilnadu

SRI PUSHPARADESWARAR TEMPLE

Gnayiru Gramam, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

God

The main deity of this temple is Pushparatheswarar or Poothereeswarar, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and He is in the form of Swayambhu Lingam. The scar caused by the cut of the king is visible on the Shivalinga.

Interesting Facts

The Birth place of Sangili Nachiyar, the wife of the Nayanmar Sundarar.
The rays of Sun fall on Lord and Mother during the first 7 days of Chithirai-April-May. It is believed that Sun performs the Shiva Puja these days, hence the midday puja is not performed in the temple.
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).

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (42°C during day and 30°C during night)Average - May (33.7 °C during the day and 28 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (26 °C during day and 21 °C during night)Monsoon season - June to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Chennai Koyambedu Bus Stand	25 KM	044-24794705
Chennai Egmore Railway Station	26.6 KM	044-28194579
Chennai International Airport	37.6 KM	044-22560551

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Chennai Egmore Railway Station	26.6 KM	044-28194579

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Chennai International Airport	37.6 KM	044-22560551

Architecture

Poo or Pushpam means flower and Ratham or Ther means chariot. Since the Lingam was found in Lotus, He got this name. Lotus is the flower that is offered to the God here. Sri Pushparadeswarar temple faces East. The temple has a 5 tiered Rajagopuram and there is shrine for Surya in the Artha Mandapam. The temple has a Surya Pushkarini.

Religious Significance

Named after the Sun God, the village has an interesting Sthalapuranam. Surya or the Sun had been cursed by Lord Brahma, To cure himself of the malady caused by the curse, Surya came down to the Earth looking for a place to pray to Lord Siva. He chanced upon 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. 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 (Sun) village. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Pushparatheswarar, called so because Lord Siva emerged from a flower in the form of a Lingam. 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. There are a few interesting legends behind this temple. A Chola King was returning after successfully waging a war on a kingdom in Andhra Pradesh. He camped at Cholavaram than he was a staunch Shiva devotee and went in search of lotus to perform his daily pooja. During his search he saw a pond full of lotuses. One of the flowers was taller, bigger and more beautiful than the rest. The King wanted this flower for the pooja and tried to reach the flower. As the King neared the flower it moved away and was elusive. After several futile attempts, the King was very angry and threw his sword at the flower. The sword broke into pieces than one of the pieces fell on a Lingam which was in the pond. The pond turned red in no time because of the blood that was oozing from the Lingam. This scar can still be seen on this Shiva Lingam. The King fainted there. His horse fled from the scene before fainting. Lord Shiva then appeared before the King and blessed him. The King apologized to the Lord. Lord Shiva asked the King to build a temple for the Lingam that was found in the pond.

History

The temple is 500 years old and built by Pandyas, Vijayanagar Kings. 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. The place of Final resting of Shri Kanva maharishi (foster Father of Shakunthala).

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:00 AM - 12:00 PM	04:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Sunday	06:00 AM - 01:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757