Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple - Info, Photo, Timing, Puja Details, History

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is one of the navagraha temples dedicated to Lord Shani (Saturn) in Karaikal district of Pondicherry, India. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, Dharbaranyeswar and the place Thirunallar was historically called Dharbaranyam.

Originally the place was a forest with a flourishing growth of Dharba grass or Kusa grass. The impression of the grass on the body of the Lingam still stands as a testimonial fact to the truth. Dharba is a type of grass and aranyam means forest and hence the name Dharbaranyeswarar for the Lord derived from Dharba.

This is the only temple where Lord Shaneeshwara lost all his power to Lord Shiva (Dharbaranyeshwarar) which saved his devotee Nalan from Saturn’s curses. It is believed that by bathing in Nalan theertham here, one wash off all kinds of misfortunes and afflictions caused by one’s past karmas.

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple is also one of the seven temples, ‘Saptha Vidanga Sthalams’. Each Murti or the idol in these seven has the Lord representing a unique dance form. The processional deity or the Somaskandhar is ‘Naka Vidangar’ and the unique dance he performs here is ‘Unmatha Nadanam’. Hence the place is also called as ‘Nakavidangapuram’ The Sthala Viruksham or the holy plant is Kusa grass (Darbha). The temple’s holy water source is the ‘Nala Theertam’ along with thirteen other Theerthams.

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple,Tamil Nadu

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Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple is of 12th century architecture. It is said that the Shivalingam appeared when the native Mudaliars ploughed the land.

In a small structure at the middle of the pond are the figurines of King Nalan with wife and children. The Navagrahas are constructed here as nine separate wells. The temple of Thirunallar is at the centre where four wide streets converge. The temple tower has five tiers. The mandapam is very wide and vast. The history of King Nalan is painted in colour. The Vasantha Mandapam is reached on entering the temple. There are lamps all along the way, which are lighted on festivities. The shrine of Shaneeshwara is to the north of the tower at the entrance. Here emblems of Capricorn and Aquarius are inscribed. The mount of crow is of golden hue. Inside, the temple is statues of Sundarar and the sixty three saints of Savism. The Linga which King Nalan worshipped called Nalesar Lingam also is to be seen. Golden Ganapathy is unique to this temple. There are also shirnes for Lord Murugan, Adhiseshan, Nalanarayanar, Mahalakshmi and Bhariavar.

The most ancient legend has Lord Brahma and other sages who worshipped Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva appeared before them and taught the Vedas, after which he assumed the shape of a Lingam. Brahma then had the divine sculptor to construct a temple which was called ‘Adhipuri’.

Thirunallaru is also the place where Sambandhar’s hymns on Dharbarenyeswara was thrown into the fire and was revived without even a slightest burn during a religious duel that took place between the Jains in Madhurai and Sambandhar. Hence the place also came to be known as ‘Pachai Padhigam Petra Thalam” Sundarar and Appar have also sung the praise of the Lord here.

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple open Morning – 06.00 AM – 01.00 PM Evening – 04.00 PM – 09.00 PM

Since Saturdays are the special days for Shaneeswaran, the Shaneeswaran sannidhi is open even between 1 PM & 4PM.

Those visiting Thirunallar should first have an oil bath in the Nala theertham. Some believe that you should leave behind a piece of your cloth near the tank. There are lots of shops around the tank, selling black towels, sachet of gingely oil etc. The tank is usually clean but on occasions you may not want to get into the water. After the bath worship the Vinayakar in the small temple nearby, break a coconut there and then proceed towards the Dharbaranyeswarar temple which is about 5 minutes walk from there.

Kuvalai flowers are used for the worship of Shani while gingelly oil lamps are lit to appease Him. Small packs of black sesame seeds wrapped in a small piece of cloth dipped in gingelly oil are burnt before Shani Bhagavan as a form of worship.

Info on the deity – Specific to the temple deity

The idol of the Lord Dharbarenyeswara is a Swayambu Linga (come on its own) here. He is also worshipped as Adhimoorthy or Nalarar. Mother Parvati is worshipped as Pranamambika in Sanskrit and Bogamartha Poonmulai-ammai in Tamil.

This is the only place available where shaneeswaran with family in the Universal is found. Saniswaran Temple is separate temple with wife Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi and sons Maandhi and Kuligan with King Dasaratha. So, This Temple is also important temple to do the Sani Peyarchi Poojas and Homams.

Lord Shani Bhagavan, can be rightly described as the disciplinarian among the Navagrahas. According to astrology, Shaneeswaran moves from one sign (house) to the next in the Zodiac once in 2-1/2 years and the day of his transit is observed as a festival in Thirunallar. Shaneeswaran is reputed to be both, a giver and destroyer. A person who prays to Shaneeswaran will be blessed with not only riddance from the problems and worries faced, but a life that one desires. Worshipping of Lord Shani helps people to develop a positive mindset even during the harshest of Shani periods.

It is also a belief that though Shani gets one to work out the results of one’s karma. He is also known to treat the righteous without inflicted much suffering. He presents himself in a pleasant form as a ‘Anugraha Murthi” (one who bestows pleasant things).

According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Surya was married to Usha or Light. Usha Devi was unable to bear the heat radiated from Surya and left her shadow or Chaya with Suryan while she herself stayed away. Shaneeswaran is the son of Chaya Devi and Suryan. The very sight of Shaneeswaran is dreaded and believed to be destructive. Suryan’s chariot is believed to have been destroyed when Shaneeswaran as a baby first opened his eyes and looked at Suryan. Shaneeswaran after intense penance on Lord Shiva attained the status of a celestial planet.

He is the Lord of Maharam and Kumba Rasis and faces the west direction. The Adi Devatha is Yaman and the Prathyathi Devatha is Prajapathi. His colour is black; his vahana the crow; the grain associated with him is gingelley; the flower – vanni and black kuvalai; fabric – black cloth; gem – neelam (blue saphire); food – rice mixed with gingelle.

By Road

There are direct buses from Chennai to Thirunallar. The easiest route from Chennai to Thirunallar is via Tindivanam, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Tranquebar and Karaikal.

By Rail

Nearest Railway Station to Thirunallar Shani Temple is the Mayiladuthurai Railway Station.