Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal, Puducherry
Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Thirunallar Village near Karaikal in Karaikal District of Pondicherry. Presiding Deity is called as Dharbaranyeswarar / Nallarar / Thirunallatreswarar. Mother is called as Piranambigai / Praneswari / Bogamarntha Poonmulaiyal. Though the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, importance is given to Lord Saneeswarar. The worship is also centered around the icon of planet Saturn, called Saniswaran, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. The tradition is to worship Saneeswarar before entering the inner sanctum of Lord Siva.
Like Shani Shinkapur in Maharashtra, the temple here in Thirunallaru is a major temple in India dedicated to Shani God. It is very crowded in Saturdays and during 'Sani peyarchi' (when the Saturn moves from one star to other). The place Tirunallar was historically called Darbharanyam. The legendary King Nala is said to have been relieved of his afflictions caused by the malefic influence of Saturn, after worship in this temple.
Sambandar, the 7th century Nayanmar and Tamil Saivite poet has revered the deity with four hymns, in one of which he refers to a contest with Jains, and his victory. Appar and Sundarar, the other Nayanmars have glorified the temple with their hymns. Arunagirinathar, a 15th-century poet and staunch devotee of Lord Muruga has composed hymns on the deity and this temple is attributed to Murugan worship as well. This is the 169th Devaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery and 52nd Sthalam in Chozha Nadu. Tirugnanasambandar sung the hymns ‘Bogamarntha poonmulayal’ in the analvatham and the same was called as Pachai Thirupathigam.
This temple is one of the Saptha Vidanga Sthalams. (The other 6 are Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tirumaraikadu, Thirukkaaraayil, Thiruvaimur and Tirukolili- Thirukkuvalai). Thyagarajar is called as Nagavidanga Thiyagar- Sri Shenbaga Thyagarajar. And the dance is called as Unmatha Natanam. Thirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is considered as one of the Navagraha temples, dedicated to Lord Sani, Saturn. Navagraha temples are the nine temples dedicated to Navagrahas (nine planets or nine celestial bodies).
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 6.00 A.M. - 1.00 P.M. & 4.00 P.M. - 9.00 P.M.
Pooja Timings
For brief details, please refer below link;
Festivals
For brief details, please refer below link;
Religious Significance
For brief details, please refer below link;
Processional Dance
For brief details, please refer below link;
http://explore-pondicherry.blogspot.com/2017/10/tirunallar-saniswaran-temple-processional-dance.html
Literary Mention
For brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
For brief details, please refer below link;
Contact
Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple),
Thirunallar – 609 607,
Karaikal, Puducherry (UT)
Phone: +91 4368 236530
Fax: +91 4368 236504
Mobile: +91 94422 36504
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;