Thirunallar Temple
Thirunallar Temple is the symbolic sign of the abode of God and even though countless numbers of them exist in our country they are only so many microcosms of the macrocosm. For millenniums, the Hindus have been loving and worshipping God, and the fact that most ancient temples all over the country were built by the rulers, or the scions of rulers suggest the same and there is no wonder that the poet warns us ‘not to dwell in a place where a temple is non-existent’.
Thirunullar Temple is not only visited by people to just offer prayers but visitors are also interested in knowing the history and witnessing the spectacular architecture that most ancient temples offer in the country. Many people have a distinct belief in the ill effects of Saturn or Shani(Saneeswara)and are in the constant wake of minimizing the same by visiting and offering prayers for the very purpose. One such temple in the country down south is the Thirunullar temple also known as Thirunullar Saneeswara temple.
Thirunullar Temple is a small village situated in the town of Karaikal in the union territory of Pondicherry. The main deity at the temple is Dharbaranyeswarar (Lord Shiva), in the form of a Shiva Linga. Over the years, lakhs of people have visited this temple and have strongly observed their misfortunes and bad luck to decrease quite considerably. It is believed that devotees who are under the influence of Saneeswara should worship here with a lamp that is full of sesame seeds. A large number of people come to worship Saneeswara on Saturdays. Temple timings for all days in a week are from 5.30 am to 12.30 pm and 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
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The Thirunallar Temple has been in existence from time immemorial and is reflects Dravidian architecture. Renovations and expansions have been done during the reigns of different rulers over the centuries. History revolves around the story that celestial Gods called Devas wanted to marry the Princess of the Nishadha Kingdom, Damayanthi.
But she married another King called Nalan. The furious Devas complained to Saneeswar and he made Nalan’s life miserable for seven and a half years. At last, Nalan arrived at Thirunallar temple and worshipped Lord Shiva. He got rid of all his problems. Therefore, the belief in worshipping Saturn at the temple to minimize ill effects and hardships caused by it is prevalent among devotees across the country.
The place has a good network of buses, taxis, and autorickshaws. You can also drive down in your own vehicle also.
By Road: Thirunallar is at a distance of 33km from Mayiladuthurai and 5km from Karaikal.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Pondicherry. You can prefer to travel by road from either Pondicherryor Mayiladuthirai
By Air: The nearest airport is in Chennai. From there, you can reach the temple in less than six hours.
The Saturn Shrine is always crowded. Idols of Makara (Capricorn) and Kumba also find a place in the shrine. There is also a Golden Crow, the vehicle of Saturn in the shrine. Look at the full article on Thirunallar Temple.