Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal – The Temple

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal – The Temple

The temple is facing east with 7 tier Rajagopuram and front mutram was converted as mandapam. The Balipitha in a temple usually faces the sanctum at a distance directly in front of the Lord. But the one here is not facing the sanctum directly but is a little away from the line of the usual position. 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.

The image of lord Saniswaran is seen in a graceful standing pose housed in niche on the left side of the lord's Sannathi. The sanctum is small and idol looks beautiful in the oil lamps. He is facing east and in most temples Lord Shani usually faces south. Another feature is that while most idols of Shani have four hands the idol at the Thirunallar Temple has only two hands. Since Lord Saturn is the main deity of this temple at Thirunallar there are no other sanctums for other Grahas (planets). Kumba and makara Rasi reliefs are covered with plate can be found on the right and left of Sri Sani Bhagavan Sannadhi.

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). Presiding Deity is called as Dharbaranyeswarar / Nallarar / Thirunallatreswarar. Moolavar is of Suyambhu, came through Dharbai. It is stated that the Lingam even now has impressions left by the Dharbai weeds within which it was situated.

Unmatha Nadana Thiyagesar with Devi Neelothmbal is located on the side of Presiding Deity. Dhakshinamoorthy, Vinayagar, Brahma and Durgai are the Koshta Idols surrounding the sanctum walls. Mother is called as Piranambigai / Praneswari / Bogamarntha Poonmulaiyal. There is a separate shrine for Mother in the Temple. As you enter past the entrance, the Nandavanam (temple garden), Kalathinathan temple, sixty-three Nayanmar idols, a small sanctum for Nalan, you will reach the gold plated huge flag post (Kodi maram). In front of this you can see the sanctum of Sri Dharbaranyeswarar.

As one enters and perambulates round the circumambulatory path the shrine of Kalathinathar and Karpakavinayakar are seen which are readily worshipped. The images of the four great Shive Saint besides those of the 63 - Nayanmars are represented at the turn of the southern Prakara of the temple, and noteworthy feature here is the image of Nala housed in a separate shrine at the end of the gallery of the 63 - Nayanmars. On the western path are seen three figures having sage-like appearance.

And it is believed that one of them is, that of the Chola king Raja Raja, this image is so strikingly like the one found at the entrance of the Nritta Sabha in the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram. The other notable deities in this line are Swarna Vinayaka and Subramanya. There was Shrine for Idaiyan, his wife and Kanakkan in the Temple. Story behind this shrine is explained in the legends.

It is computed that there are 17 Shivalingas in this sacred place including Dharbaranyeswarar in the main shrine and those that the lords of the 8 cardinal points (Dik Palakas) has established and worshipped along with a sacred tank in each of the cardinal points to which they are respectively accredited.

Shrines of Sundarar, 63var, Naleswarar. Sthala Vinayagar Sorna Ganapathy, Saptha Vidanga Sthala Shiva Lingas, Subramaniyar, Adhiseshan, Nala Narayana Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Bairavar, Natarajar Saba and Urchavars can be found in the inner prakaram. 10 types of Shiva's dance as stucco images has been depicted in the pillars of the Vasantha Mandapam. Nalan History has been painted in the Vasantha Mandapam.

There are several tanks here which are considered highly sanctified. They are respectively Brahma Tirtha, Vani Tirtha, Hamsa Tirtha, Agasthya Tirtha, Darbha Tirtha, Nala Tirtha, etc., Nala Theertham is one of the bigger temple tanks in front of the temple. Devotees to take bath before offering prayers to the God. These rituals have been followed by devotees for years. The Sthala Vriksha here is the Darbha plant (Kusa grass).