Thirunallaru Sri Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, Puducherry

Address

Thirunallaru Sri Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, Thirunallaru Post, Karaikkal Taluk, Puducherry State. Pincode – 609 607. Tele: +91 4368 – 236 530, 236 504, 94422 36504.

Diety

Sri Dharbaranyeswarar, Sri Thirunallatreeswarar,Sri Bohamaartha Amman:Poonmulaiyaal, Sri Branambigai

Introduction

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Thirukoodalaiyathoor, a village in Cuddalore district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. located in Tirunallar in Karaikal district of Pondicherry, India. Shiva is worshipped as Dharbaranyeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Praneswari Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is counted as one of the nine temples in the Navagraha, the nine planetary deities. It is famous for shani, the planet Saturn.

Puranic Significance

The temple complex covers around two acre and entered through a five tiered gopuram, the main gateway. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Dharbaranyeswarar, his consort Praneswari Amman, Saniswararan and Somaskandar being the most prominent. All the shrines of the temple are enclosed in large concentric rectangular granite walls. The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers. The temple is maintained and administered by the Department of Hindu Religious Institutions by the Government of Puducherry. As per Hindu legend, the ruler of the region asked a shepherd to provide milk to the temple daily. The shepherd was a staunch devotee of Shiva and he was happily providing the quota of milk to the temple for ablution of the presiding deity. The government’s headman who was living close to the temple asked the shepherd to give the milk he is offering to the temple to him and threatened him not to reveal this to the king. At a later point, the king came to know from the temple priest that the temple was not receiving the milk from the shepherd. The king wanted to punish the shepherd and asked him the reason for disobeying his order. Out of fear of the headman, the shepherd remained silent, which angered the king further. He ordered the shepherd to be slaughtered. The shepherd was praying to Shiva to relieve him off the punishment. When he was about to be slaughtered, Shiva stopped it with his trident. Following the legend, the altar (balipeetam) of the temple is slightly away from the axis of the flagstaff and the central shrine. As per another legend, Nala was ruling this region full of tropical grass locally called Darba after which the place came to be known as Darbaranyam (Aranyam indicates forest while Darba is a grass). Every person is afflicted by the movement of planet Saturn, which is believed to create negative effects on the lives of people. Nala was also afflicted by the planetary movement of Saturn on a day when he skipped standard practices of cleanliness.[4] He is believed to have resided in the temple to get himself off the curses of Shani, the planet Saturn. He prayed to Shiva and wanted him to protect all the devotees afflicted with Shani to be protected when they visit the temple. Following the legend, people afflicted take a holy dip with oil in Nala theertham, the temple tank and wear black dress.

Special Features

This ancient temple is believed to have been constructed by Chola kings. Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This is one of the “Saptha (seven) Vidanga Sthalams”. This is one of the Shakti Peetam – known as “Braneswari Peetam”. This is one of the Navagraha sthalams and it is the most popular temple for Lord Saneeswaran. This is one of the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints – Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams. This east facing temple has 3 corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 7-tiers. The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 24.03.2006. As per another legend, Nala was ruling this region full of tropical grass locally called Darba after which the place came to be known as Darbaranyam (Aranyam indicates forest while Darba is a grass). Every person is afflicted by the movement of planet Saturn, which is believed to create negative effects on the lives of people. Nala was also afflicted by the planetary movement of Saturn on a day when he skipped standard practices of cleanliness. He is believed to have resided in the temple to get himself off the curses of Shani, the planet Saturn. He prayed to Shiva and wanted him to protect all the devotees afflicted with Shani to be protected when they visit the temple. Following the legend, people afflicted take a holy dip with oil in Nala theertham, the temple tank and wear black dress.

Festivals

The important festival here is the transition of Saturn. It happens once every two and a half years. Lakhs of devotees visit this place to worship Lord Saneeswaran on this transition day (“Sani Peyarchi”). Also, on all Saturdays, devotees throng in thousands to worship Saneeswaran as Saturdays are considered to be very auspicious for Lord Saneeswaran. On the full moon night in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), special poojas are performed to the Emerald Lingam. 18-day Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) is celebrated in a grand manner. All festivals related to Shiva temples are celebrated in this temple