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DHARBHARANYESHWARAR TEMPLE - SHANI ( SATURN) - TIRUNALLAR

Dharbharanyeswarar Temple,Tirunallar –Shani(Saturn)

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbharanyeswarar Temple is a Shiva temple dedicated to Lord Dharbharanyeswar. There is a shrine dedicated to Shani (saturn) located in the Temple in Tirunallar town in Karaikal district of Pondicherry. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, (Dharbaranyeswar) and the place Tirunallar  was historically called Dharbaranyam.

The presiding deity, Lord Shiva in the form of  a swayambhu lingam coming out of Darbha grass hence known as Dharbaranyeswarar. His consort is Praneshwari. The worship is also centered around the icon of planet saturn, called Shani, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. According to Hinduism, saturn resides in each rasi(zodiac) for two and half years. The tradition is to worship Shani before entering the inner sanctum of Lord Siva.

Kings in the past had donated milch cows for the upkeep of the temple. From the cowherd community a cowherd(Idayan) was selected to take the cows for grazing and milk them and supply milk to the temple in the designated quantities and keep the balance for his upkeep. An accountant received the milk and used it for himself, without giving it to the temple. Lord Shiva lifted his Trishul and killed him and blessed the lofty cowherd. The Nandi and Bali peetham shifted in fright, seeing the lord in fury killing the accountant. There is a shrine for Idayanar & his consort.

 

Damayanthi the Princess of Chedi, selected Nala the prince of Nishada as her consort in a swayamvara. The devas coveting Damayanthi were disappointed and through Shani wanted to curse Nala. Nala prayed to Dharbaranyeshwar, who directed Shani Bhagwan to release Nala from his curse. Hence the temple is know as Shaniswarar Sthalam.

 

Things to See :  The Shifted Peetham  & Nandi  in Ardhamandapam, before the Sanctum.

 

 

 

 

 

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