Shaneeswar Temple Tirunallar

            Shaneeshwara Temple in Thirunallar 

Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Pondicherry (better known in the Tamil language as Puducheri), and can be reached by road from the town of Karaikal which lies in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Thirunallar is most noted for the shrine of Lord Shani(Saturn), Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple within the temple dedicated to Lord Darbharanyeswaran, a form of Lord Shiva.

Shani

This is the only temple that is dedicated to Lord Shani (Saneeswaran, in Tamil). Whenever (planet) Saturn transits from one zodiac sign to another (an occurrence roughly every 2.5 years), millions throng this shrine for worship. 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. Of the numerous theertams (sacred bathing places), the Nala theertam is the most important one. It is believed that by bathing here, one washes off all kinds of misfortunes and afflictions caused by one's past karmas (in terms of deities, Lord Shani or Saturn is said to be the dispenser of karmas (both good and bad), but also one whose Grace, particularly at this shrine, can dispel bad karmas or, at least, make them bearable).

                      Legend behind the temple

Ninraseernedumaran converted to Jainism. During this time, Jainism was spreading in influence in South India. Soon, all but his queen Mangaiyarkarasi and his minister Kulacchirai Nayanar - both staunch Saivaites (worshippers of Lord Shiva) had embraced Jainism, forsaking the old religion. This caused immense agony to the queen and the minister who were anxious to reclaim both king and kingdom back into the fold of the traditional religion (Saivism).

To these two grief-stricken individuals came news of the camping of boy saint Thirugnana Sambandar at Vedaranyam. Having heard of the miracles performed by this young Saivite saint in Thanjavur district, they sent an urgent invitation to him to visit Madurai and extricate the king and his subjects from the clutches of Jainism.

The arrival of the Saivate saint irked the Jains, who are said to have then set fire to his holy dwelling. But by his yogic powers, Sambandar had the heat transferred to the king, who consequently suffered in agony. The young saint then sang the Padigam 'Mandiramavadu Neeru' and sprinkled a few grains of holy ash on the right side of the king's body to alleviate the pain. The Jains in turn chanted the Aruga Mantra (Jain Mantra) and stroked the left side of the king's person with peacock feathers, but it only aggravated the pain! In response to entreaties by the king and his ministers, Sambandar applied a few more grains of the sacred ash to the king's left side also and the poor Pandian monarch, who only a little while ago was the very picture of suffering, misery and distress, now smiled gaily and was free of his burns.

But the Jains challenged the Saivites further, asking that the Mantras of both religions be written on palm leaves and consigned to flames to see which one survived the ordeal of fire (thereby showing superiority over the other). The Jains first placed their palm leaf onto the fire but it was soon consumed by the flames. Saint Thirugnana Sambandar placed on the flames one leaf containing the forty-ninth Padigam of the Tevaram hymn which was sung at the shrine of Lord Darbharanyeswaran Shiva at Thirunallar. The leaf remained untouched by the flames and maintained its evergreen freshness, reestablishing Saivism as the true religion in Pandian capital. Hence the glory of the Thirunallar temple.

SATURDAY IS THE SPECIAL DAY FOR THIS GOD

Thirunallar is one of the most famous holy places in South India located in Karaikal which is 160 km south of Pondicherry (Pudhucherry). Thirunallar is famous for Lord Saneeshwara's (Saturn) temple. The only temple where Lord Saneeshwara lost all his power to Lord Shiva (Dharbaranyeshwarar) which saved his devotee Nalan from Saturn's curses. That's the story about the temple. A lot of People visit the place every Saturday to get similar blessings.

Temple Pooja Timings

Day	Timings	Pooja Name	Permission to see
Saturday	5:30 AM to 6:30 AM	Usha kaalam	Yes
Saturday	9:00 AM to 10:00 AM	Kaalasandhi	Yes
Saturday	12:00 PM to 1:00 PM	Uchi kaalam	Yes
Saturday	5:30 PM to 6:30 PM	Saayaratchai	Yes
Saturday	7:30 PM to 8:30 PM	Irandaam kaalam	Yes
Saturday	8:30 PM Onwards	Artha jaamam	No
Sun to Fri	6:00 AM to 1:00 PM	Nadai thirappu	Yes
Sun to Fri	4:00 PM to 9:00 PM	Nadai thirappu	Yes

To Reach Thirunallar

Karaikal (5 KM)
Nagore (19 KM) 
Nagapattinam (23 KM) 
Mayiladudhurai(38 KM) 
Thiruvarur (40 KM) 

Saneeswaran is reputed to be both, a giver and destroyer. A person who prays to Saneeswaran will be blessed with not only riddance from the problems and worries faced, but a life that one desires.

THIRUNALLAR is the only temple that is dedicated to Lord Saneeswaran Bahavan. The legendary King Nala is said to have been relieved of his afflictions, which were due to the malefic influence of Saturn, after worship in this temple. Of the numerous tanks of theertams, the Nala theertam is the most important one. One have to take bath in this nala theertam inorder to get relived for Lord Saneeswara bahavan. If we did that, then the effectes of Sani will be reduced as we can good results in our life. Its a belief form ancient time.

Karaikal is the main place to reach Thirunallar as it will take just 15 min travel by road.

Hope you will get some details about Thirunallar Lord Saneeswaran Temple. For more information please use the links.

For Temple visiting & Tour Guide 

P RajKumar (Thirunallar )

Mobile:- +91-98652-83982 & +91-99653-92817

Thanks and have a great day.