Sri Pushparatheswarar temple at the Gnayiru Temple is in a village one of the navagraha temples around Chennai dedicated to Lord Sun (Suriyan) and the prime deity here is Lord Shiva and is situated at a distance of about 15 km beyond Red Hills outskirts of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sthala puranam seen in the temple, 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.
The temple priest was also not clear about this. This is one of the ‘Pancha Baskara Sthalams’ and is revered as the prime among them.

The legend behind the temple is that once Sun was cursed by Lord Brahma. To get rid of the curse Suriya performed a penance here by bathing at the pond here and performing pooja to Lord Shiva and Goddess Swarnambikai with red lotus flowers.

Gnayiru Temple Lord Shiva along with his consort Swatrnambigai appeared before Suriya and blessed him. It is believed that every Tamil year Lord Suriya in the form of rays falls on Lord and Mother during the first 7 days of the Tamil New Year
It is believed that long ago, Lord Surya was separated from his wife Chaya Devi and he did penance at this place praying to Lord Pushpa Ratheswarar.

He started his prayers from the first month of Tamil Calendar, Chithra month. He did his penance on the banks of the lotus pond near the temple. He then got united with His wife.

It is believed that couples separated due to family trouble can unite if they ardently pray here.

The temple has a four-tiered small raja gopuram 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.