Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal – Religious Significance

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal – Religious Significance

The temple is counted as one of the Navagraha Temples for planet Saturn. Thirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated Dharbaranyeswarar in ten verses in Thevaram, compiled as the First Thirumurai. Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Dharbaranyeswarar in 10 verses in Thevaram, compiled as the Fifth Thirumurai. As the temple is revered in Thevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.

According to astrology, Saturn is the Lord of the houses Makara (Capricorn) and Kumbha (Aquarius). He is exalted in the house Thula (Libra) and is Ayurkaraka or in other words, governs our life span, Sesame or the gingelly is his favourite seed and cooked rice mixed with sesame is the favourite naivedana. The Siloatatnakara mentions the eagle as his vehicle. It is also said that lamps fed with gingili oil and lighted before him reduces the intensity of Sani Dosha and Saturday being his day in the week the offerings on that day of gingili oil fed lamps and gingili-rice bring to the devotee great virtues.

Saturn as well-known as one of the 9 planets and Is the biggest in the solar system next only to Jupiter. Its diameter is 71,500 miles and is of a lighter density than the earth. It orbits the sun taking about 29.5 years to take one full round, passing through the 12 sign of the zodiac in its stride. It is 886 million miles away from the Sun. And it takes 10.15 hours to make in rotation on its own axis.

Thirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is popularly known as ‘Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple’. 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). The Navagrahas are believed to be the transmitters of Universal, quintessential energy or power. The Navagrahas are closely associated with the fixed stars in the Zodiac.

Each Navagraha temples are located at different places in and around Kumbakonam sector. The Navagraha temples are the best destination to get rid of from the influence of planets. And most of these Navagraha temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva is worshipped as the main deity. The only Navagraha temple dedicated to Grahas (celestial bodies) is Suryanar temple.

The Navagraha Temples are:

·        Suryanar Temple – Surya (Sun)

·        Agneeswarar Temple – Shukra (Venus)

·        Kailasanathar Temple – Chandra (Moon)

·        Vaitheeswaran Temple – Mangala (Mars)

·        Thirunageswaram Nageswarar Temple – Rahu

·        Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple – Sani (Saturn)

·        Keezhperumpallam Nagannathaswamy Temple – Kethu

·        Abathsahayeswarar Temple – Guru (Jupiter)

·        Thiruvenkadu Swetharanyeswarar Temple – Budha (Mercury)