Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple
Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Coordinates:	10°55′N 79°47′E / 10.917°N 79.783°E / 10.917; 79.783Coordinates: 10°55′N 79°47′E / 10.917°N 79.783°E / 10.917; 79.783
Name
Other names:	Dharbaranyeswarar Temple
Proper name:	Dharbaranyam
Location
Country:	India
State:	Pondicherry
District:	Karaikkal
Location:	Tirunallar
Temple Details
Primary Deity:	Dharbaranyeswarar(Shiva), Shani
Temple Tank:	Nala Theertham
Architecture and culture
Architectural styles:	Dravidian architecture

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Sani(saturn)^[1] located in Tirunallar in Karaikal district of Pondicherry, India.^[2] The presiding deity is Lord Siva, Dharbaranyeswar and the place Tirunallar was historically called Dharbaranyam. The temple is reverred by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poets, Appar, Cuntarar and Campantar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The Temple

The presiding deity is Dharbaranyeswarar(Lord Siva)^[3] and is believed to have been made of dharba grass. The chief focus of worship has shifted over the years and is now centered around the icon of planet saturn, called Saniswarar, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. According to Hindu mythology, saturn resides in each rasi(zodiac) for two and half years. The belief is the malevolent planet is worshipped before entering the inner sanctum of Lord Siva.

Legend

Campantar, the 7th century nayanar and Tamil saivite poet has reverred the deity with four hymns, in one of which he refers to a contest with Jains, and his victory. Appar and Cuntarar, the other nayanars have glorified the temple with their hymns. Arunagirinathar, a 15th century poet and staunch devoteet of Lord Muruga has composed hymns on the deity and this temple is attributed to Murugan worship as well.^[4]

Processional Dance

The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa thanam(dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu.^[5] All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession(it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam(seven dance moves)^[6] and the related temples are as under^[7]:

Temple	Vidangar Temple	Dance pose	Meaning
Thyagarajar Temple	Vidhividangar	Ajabathaanam	Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple	Nagaradangar	Unmathanathaanam	Dance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohanaswamy Temple	Sundaravidangar	Vilathithaanam	Dancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple	Adhividangar	Kukunathaanam	Dancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple	Avanividangar	Brunganathaanam	Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornaathar Temple	Nallavidangar	Kamalanaanathaanam	Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple	Bhuvanivividangar	Hamsapthanathaanam	Dancing with the gait of a swan

References

1. ^ Dealing With Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia.P.62.Selva J. Raj, William P. Harman
2. ^ Tourism in India .P.179. Vijay Kumar Gupta
3. ^ Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu .P.64.
4. ^ The Tyāgarāja cult in Tamilnāḍu: a study in conflict and accommodation .P.62.Rajeshwari Ghose
5. ^ Glimpses of the history of Karaikkal.Saroja Sundararajan
6. ^ The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras: Volumes 33-34 .Music Academy (Madras, India) - 1962
7. ^ Nityasumaṅgalī: devadasi tradition in South India .P.146. Saskia C. Kersenboom-Story