Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple – Shani Navagraha Sthalam

Popularly known as Darbaranyeswara Temple, Shri Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva who is represented here in the form of lingam. Situated in the Thirunallar town of Karaikal district, Puducherry, this shrine is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Darbaranyeswara. His consort Maa Parvati is depicted as Praneswari Amman or Poonmulaiyaal here. Every individual experiences the effect of planetary movement in their lives which at times can be malefic. There are nine temples each dedicated to one of these nine planetary deities called Navagraha Temples. Shri Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple is counted as one of the Navgraha Temples famous for Shani, the planet Saturn.

As per puranas, King Nala, the ruler of the region where this temple is presently situated was under the malefic effect of Shani Graha. Hardships that followed further included him losing his kingdom, getting separated from his wife and transforming into an ugly and dwarf person who had to live a life of penury. On seeing such a situation of himself, King Nala prayed to Shani Deva at Thirunallar Temple and took a holy dip with oil in Nala Theertham, the shrine’s holy water pond. Shani Deva was appeased by his devotion and King Nala got back all those things that he lost. Following this parampara, the devotee in this shrine take a holy dip in Nala Theertham and wear a black dress. Shani Deva is believed to be an impartial dispenser of one’s karma and so Lord Shiva conferred him the title ‘Eswara’ meaning the ‘Lord’, being the only planet conferred with this title.

The temple complex spreads across two acres of land and entered through a five-tiered gopuram, the main gateway to this shrine. The shrine has a Dravidian architecture form that dates back to the 9th Century built during the reign of Chola Dynasty rulers. There are six daily rituals that are carried out between 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in this shrine and four-yearly festivals in its calendar, with Mahashivratri being the major one. The Sanipeyarchi festival that occurs every 2.5 years is the most prominent for Shani Deva. The shrine is maintained and administered by the Department of Hindu Religious Institutions by the Government of Puducherry.