Sri Dharbaranyeswarar Temple /தர்பாரண்யேஸ்வரர் கோவில் / Sri Saneeswarabagwaan Sthalam / திருநள்ளாறு சனீஸ்வரன் கோவில், Thirunallar / Thirunallaru / Tirunallar, Karaikal District, Puducherry U T.

This is the 169^th Thevara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri  and 52^nd Sthalam in Chozha Nadu. This is one of the Moovar Paadal Petra Shiva Temple.  This temple is one of the Saptha vidanga sthalangal. ( The other 6 are Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thirumaraikadu, Thirukkaarayil, Thiruvaimur and Thirukolili- Thirukkuvalai ). This is one of the 44 temples on which Moovar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva. This place was called as Dharparanyam, Nagavidangapuram, Nalesuram  during ancient times.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Dharmapuram.

நள்ளாற்றில் எழுந்தருள நம்பர்திருத் தொண்டர் குழாம் நயந்து சென்று

கொள் ஆற்றில் எதிர்கொண்டு குலவி உடன் சூழ்ந்து அணையக் குறுகிக் கங்கைத்

தெள்ளாற்று வேணியர்தம் திருவளர் கோபுரம் இறைஞ்சிச் செல்வக் கோயில்

உள்ஆற்ற வலம்கொண்டு திருமுன்பு தாழ்ந்து எழுந்தார் உணர்வின் மிக்கார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirugnanasambandar has sung the hymns ‘Bogamarntha poonmulayal’ in the analvatham and the same was called as “Pachai Thirupathigam”.

போகமார்த்த பூண் முலையாள் தன்னோடும் பொன்னகலம்

பாகமார்த்த பைங் கண் வெள்ளேற்றண்ணல் பரமேட்டி

ஆகமார்த்த தோலுடையன் கோவண ஆடையின் மேல்

நாகமார்த்த நம்பெருமான் மேயது நள்ளாறே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

குலங்கொடுத்துக் கோள்நீக்க வல்லான் தன்னைக்

            குலவரையின் மடப்பாவை இடப் பாலானை

மலங் கொடுத்து மாதீர்த்தம் ஆட்டிக்கொண்ட

            மறையவனைப் பிறைதவழ் செஞ்சடையினானைச்

சலங் கொடுத்துத் தயாமூல தன்ம மென்னுந்

            தத்துவத்தின் வழிநின்று தாழந்தோர்க்கெல்லாம்

நலங் கொடுக்கும் நம்பியை நள்ளாற்றானை

            நானடியேன் நினைக்கப்பெற்றுய்ந்த வாறே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

மாதினுக்கு உடம்பு இடங் கொடுத்தானை

            மணியினைப் பணிவார் வினை கெடுக்கும்

வேதனை வேதவேள் வியர் வணங்கும்

            விமலனை அடியேற்கு எளி வந்த

தூதனைத் தன்னைத் தோழமையருளித்

            தொண்டனேன் செய்த துரிசுகள் பொறுக்கும்

நாதனை நள்ளாற்றானை அமுதை

            நாயினேன் மறந்தென் நினைக்கேனே

..... சுந்தரர்

சனி பகவான் துதி

பெருவாச நளனொடு வந்தவன் தீர்த்த்மாடுதலாற் பெற்றபேற்றால்

ஒருவா வந்தெம் பெருமானருள் பெற்று மிகவுமனம் உவகைபூப்பக்

கருவாசல் புக்கார்போல் புகுந்தொளிரு நள்ளாற்றுக் கனக வச்ரத்

திருவாசலிடனின்ற “மந்தன்” இரு செந்தளிர்த்தாள் சிந்தை செய்வாம்

....... தலபுராணம்

                                                                                -“இருமையினும்

எள்ளாற்றின் மேவாத வேற்புடையோர் சூழ்ந்திறைஞ்சும்

நள்ளாற்றின் மேவிய என் நற்றுணையே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Dharbaranyeswarar, Sri Thirunallatreswarar.

Consort    : Sri Piranambigai, Sri Praneswari and

                 Sri Bogamaartha Poonmulaiyal.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with 5 tier Rajagopuram and front mutram was converted as mandapam. Moolavar is of Swayambhu, since Lord Shiva came through Dharbai ( A type of grass ) and there is a scar on his head. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Brahma and Durgai.

On the side Unmatha nadana Thyagesar is with Devi Nilothlambal. Thiagarajar is called as Naga Vidanga Thyagar- Sri Shenbaga Thiagarajar and the dance is called as Unmatha nadanam.

In the outer prakaram Nalan’s history as painting, Vasantha mandapam ( a new mandapam is constructed and on the pillars Stucco images of Shiva’s dance ),  On the right and left of Sri Shani Bhagavan sannidhi - Kumbha and makara rasi reliefs are covered with brass plate.

In the inner prakaram, Sundarar, 63var, Naleswarar. Sthala Vinayagar Swarna Ganapathy, Saptha vidanga sthala Shiva Lingas, Subramaniar, Adhiseshan, Nalanarayana Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar. Natarajar sabha and Urchavars. On the right side Idayan, his wife and Accountant /kanakkan temple. In the mandapam pillars 10 types of Shiva's dance stucco images.

Maragatha Lingam is in a safe custody and Pooja will be conducted during morning 08.30 Hrs abhishekam.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Muruga of this temple.

நச்சு வெண்பட மீதணை வார்முகில்

            பச்சை வண்புய னார்கரு டாசனர்

            நற்க ரந்தநு கோல்வளை நேமியர்                மருகோனே

    நற்பு னந்தனில் வாழ்வளி நாயகி

            யிச்சை கொண்டொரு வாரண மாதொடு

            நத்தி வந்துந ளாறுறை தேவர்கள்                பெருமானே

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple the original temple might have existed before 7^th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozhas period and further extended during Vijayanagaras / Marathas.

As per the inscription this temple was under Uyyakondar valanattu Muzhayur nattu Thirunallar and Lord Shiva was called as Thirunallarudayar.

Rajathirajan-II’s 11^th reign year inscription starts with meikeethi records an endowments executed by more than 10 Bhattans. Since the inscriptis incomplete and could not trace what for this endowment was established. Probably land may be donated to this temple.

Rajathirajan's 35th reign year damaged inscriptions records an endowment and mentions the "Pachai Pathigam" ( Thirugnanasambandar's Pathigam / hymns starts with "போகமார்த்த பூண்புலையாள்" - Composed to win over the debate with Jains in analvatham in which the the palm leaf didn't burnt. This may mentions a drama or Ariya Koothu of this incident was conducted at this Temple ). Correct information couldn't  get due to damage of the inscriptions. A gift / dhanam was given to Mukhamezhutha - makeup to the artists.  

The Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-I (?), 17^th reign year inscription is damaged in many portions and incomplete records the endowment of burning sandhi lamp /perpetual lamp at Adhi Chandeswarar shrine, for which Sheep / Goat was gifted.  

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 24^th March 2006 after renovations. This is one of the administratively controlled temple of Dharmapura Adheenam. 

 Inscriptions

LEGENDS

Even though this is a Shiva temple, Sri Shaniswaran is mainly worshiped by devotees to ge rid of the Shani dosha. The story of Nalan who got rid of Shani dosha after worshiping Shani Bhagavan of this temple goes like this..... Dhamayanthi married Nalan  a king of Nidha kingdom  in a swayamvaram, ignoring the Devas. So Shaniswaran has got angry and hold of him after 12 years, due to the simple reason of not washing his leg properly before entering his palace. As per the advice of Sri Bharadwaj Munivar Nalan  came to Thirunallar, created a Theertham and worshiped  Lord Shiva. Fearing Lord Shiva Sri Shaniswaran stayed out side the sanctum. Hence Shani Bhagavan is powerful in this temple.

Nala's Dharbar

Nala Theertham - Entrance

Nala Theertham 

During Daksha’s yagna he lost one of his eyes. Even though black eagle as vahana, in agamam Black crow is also treated as Vahana.  His wife is called as “Jyeshta Devi”. His friends are Budhan, Guru and Sukran. And his enemies are Suriyan ( His father ), Chandran and Chevvai.

After the entrance, on the right side is the Idayan, his wife and Accountant/ kanakkan temple. There is a story associated with this temple. Idayan used to give milk to this temple. Accountant / Kanakkan used for his  own use and written a false account. On hearing this the king  has got angry.  In the mean time Lord Shiva throw  his Trishul to kill  the accountant / Kanakkan and saved Idayan.  To make the way to the soolam Balipeedam of the main shrine moved to side. Accountant /Kanakkan’s head was chopped & Idayan was blessed by Lord Shiva. In the mandapam pillars bas reliefs of Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Indran, Ashtadikpalakas, Agasthiyar, Pulathiyar and Arjunan. Nalan  worshiped Lord Sri Shaniswaran of this temple.

This is one of the Saptha Vidanga sthalam... Maha Vishnu gave a Maragatha Linga to Brahma, Brahma in turn gave it to Indra. Indra worshiped the Shiva Linga for a long time. The Chozha king Muchukunda Chakravarthy with a monkey face was brave warrior, helped Indra to conquer the demon Valasuran. As a part of thanks giving Indra wants to present some thing and asked what he wants..?. Since Muchukunda Chakravarthy was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, asked the maragatha Linga which Indra got it from Brahma. Indra was reluctant to give it to Muchukunda Chakravarthy, so he made 6 similar Shiva Lingas and told the King, that if he identifies the original, he agreed to give all the 7 Shiva Lingas. With Lord Shiva’s grace, the Chozha King identified the  original and got all the 7 Shiva Lingas. The Musukunda gave the original Shiva Linga to Thiruvarur Temple and the rest to other six temples around Thiruvarur. So these 7 temples are called as “Vidanga Sthalams”. ( Vidanga means made without Chiselled ). In all the 7 Vidanga temples, the procession deity is Thyagaraja, in the form of Somaskandar. The Shiva Linga and the Dance in each temples are called in different names. At Thirunallar Thiagarajar is called as “Shenbaga Thyagar”, Shiva Linga is called as Naga Vidangar and Dance as Unmatha Nadanam. The details of the other temples are...

Place                      Shiva Linga              Dance

Thiruvarur               Vidhi Vidangar         Ajapa Nadanam

Thirunallar              Naga Vidangar         Unmatha Nadanam

Nagapattinam          Sundara Vidangar    Visi Nadanam

Thirukarayil            Adhi Vidangar          Kukuda Nadaanam

Thirukkuvalai          Avani Vidangar         Brunga Nadanam

Thiruvaimur            Nila Vidangar           Kamala Nadanam

Vedaranyam            Buvani Vidangar      Hamsapada Nadanam

 Stucco umage od Lord Shiva's Dance postures.

It is learnt that the Shiva Lingas at Thiruvarur and Thirunallar are the original and rest are either stolen or replaced by new ones.

Also paintings of Pandya king Nindraseer Nedumaran's decease was got cured by Thirugnanasambandar. The debate between Thirugnanasambandar and Jains in which the palm leaves didn't burnt - analvatham  for his Pachchai pathigam. 

Thirugnanasambandar's debate with SamaNar ( Jains ) in Analvatham 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted Saturn transition / Sani Peyarchi Day, Saturdays, Pournami / full moon night day in the month Purattasi ( Sep – Oct ), 18 days Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and all important Hindu festivals.   

TEMPLE TIMINGS 

The temple kept open between .6.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs. The closing times will be extended on Saturdays and important days.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The telephone numbers +91 4368 236530 & +91 4368 236530 and mobile number +91 94422 36504, may be contacted for further details.

The Web site : http://thirunallarutemple.org/index.html

HOW TO REACH :

Thirunallar is on the Karaikal to Kumbakonam bus route. Frequent buses are available from Peralam, Karaikal, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam.

Thirunallar is 3 KM from Dharmapuram ( Puducherry ). 6 KM from Karaikal, 33 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 47 KM from Sirkazhi, 52 KM from Kumbakonam and 285 KM from Chennai. 

Nearest Railway Station is Karaikal. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

The Sthala Vruksham Dharbai a kind of grass and once this place was completely with these plants / grass as aranyam / forest - Since Lord Shiva came under this grass, is called as Dharbaranyeswarar  

Nala Theertham - Vinayagar and Bhariravar sannathi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---