This Shiva temple is located at Thirunallar in Karaikkal district in Pondicherry. This temple is one of the seven temples from Sapta Vidanga Sthalam. The vidanga here is known as Nagara Vidanga and the dance performed by Lord Shiva here is known as Unmatha Pada Natanam (i.e. dancing like an intoxicated person). This is also one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam revered by Nayanmars. Though this is a Shiva temple, it is more famous as Navagraha sthala for the planet Saturn.
Traditionally it is customary to worship Lord Shani before Lord Shiva at this place. In this temple Lord Shani is considered as the doorkeeper of the shrine. This temple was revered by Shaiva Saints Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar. Shaiva Saint Arunagirinathar has praised Lord Muruga of this temple. This temple is about 2 kms from Thirunallar bus stop, 7 kms from Karaikkal railway station, 53 kms from Kumbhakonam, 26 kms from Nagapattinam and 37 kms from Thiruvarur. This temple existed even before the 7th century. It was reconstructed by chola kings as a stone structure and later extensions were done by Vijayanagar and Maratha kings. There are stone inscriptions which describe about the endowments, gifts made by various kings.
Nomenclature: Because Brahma worshiped at this place long ago, the place is known as AadiPuri (Aadi = Beginning, Puri = City). As the sacred grass Darbha (not Durva used in Ganesh Pooja) was abundant, this place was called Darbharanyam. Because Nala had also worshipped here, the place used to be called Nallar and Shiva here called Nalleshwara.
Moolavar: Shri Darbharanyeshwarar, Shri Thirunallar-ishwarar
Devi: Shri Pranambika, Shri Bhogamarta - Poonmulaiyal, Shri Praneshwari
Kshetra Vruksha: Darbha grass
Sacred Theertha: Nala Theertha, Brahma Theertha, Vani Theertha. Anna Theertha and Ganga Theertha are in a well near Nalavinayaka temple. Besides these there are eight Ashta Dikpal Theerthas.
Speciality: On the shiva linga we observe markings of Darbha grass as it is stated in Puran that the Shiva Linga was found among darbha grass. This is a Swayambhu Linga.
Kshetra Puran:
There are a number of sthala puranas associated with this place which are mentioned in the puranas.
1. According to the scriptures, Lord Brahma, after having created the world, went around to tour it. When he came to this forest (Aranya) full of Darbha, he was enchanted by its beauty and performed a penance and worshiped a Swayambhu Shiva Lingam. The Lord appeared and explained to Brahma the inner meaning of Vedas and taught him other shastras. Brahma stayed in this place for a long time worshiping Shiva-Parvati and built temples for them. Brahma created Brahma Theertha and Saraswati created Vani Theertha. Indra, Ashta Dikpal (eight directions) and the sacred swan (Hansa) established their own Shiva Lingam and worshiped.
2. According to Puran, Lord Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva and Parvati at this place and got Manmatha (Kamadeva) as his son. Hence as a token, Lord Vishnu created the Somaskanda form i.e. with Lord Muruga seated in between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Later on Vishnu gave this to Indra and by worshiping this form Indra obtained Jayant and Jayanti as children. Later on Indra created six more forms of the same Somaskanda and gave all of them to Muchuganda. The king placed them at seven places which are known as Sapta Vidanga sthala. One such form of Somaskanda is in this temple and people worship it for obtaining offspring. This vidanga is known as Nagar vidanga. The Sapta Vidangas are as follows
3. According to Puran, when the sages approached Lord Shiva to suggest a suitable place on the earth for performing Satra Yagnya. Lord Shiva rolled out a chakra (Nemi) made of darbha (kushagrass). The chakra stopped at the place which was suitable for performing yagnya and penance. Hence the place came to be known as Naimisharanya. According to another Puran, Lord Shiva annihilated a lot of asuras at this place in a minute (Nimish). Hence the place is called Naimisharanya.
4. According to the Puran, King Nala of Nishada married Damayanti of Vidarbha. Lord Shani became furious as he was not able to marry her. He became jealous of King Nala. He could not trouble King Nala as the king was very pious and just. Once Nala washed his legs before performing pooja. As he had not washed his legs properly Lord Shani got an opportunity to interfere in Nala’s life. Due to Lord Shani’s influence Nala lost everything including his kingdom and wife. Later on, he was advised by Sage Narada and Sage Bharadwaj to undergo a pilgrimage of Lord Shiva sthalas. Nala undertook the pilgrimage and came to this place. He created a tank and went into the temple for worshiping Lord Shiva. As Lord Shani was afraid of Lord Shiva, he stayed back at the entrance. Lord Shiva directed Shani that anyone who enters the temple after worshiping him (Shani) should not be troubled. Since then anyone who enters the temple after worshiping Shani is absolved of all miseries by Lord Shani.
5. According to the Sthala Puran, two brahmins had performed Putra Kameshthi Yagnya for King Thooyakanda of Vedavarthana. When a son was born to the king, he gave riches, gifts and cows to the two brahmins. As one cow was more healthier, the two brahmins quarreled amongst themselves. They fought among themselves with sticks. One of the brahmin’s blow landed on a cow and killed the cow. Hence the brahmin was affected by Gohatya Dosha. He approached the Sage Romasa to get relief. So Sage Romasa directed him to this place and asked him to worship Lord Shiva after taking bath in separate Theertha. The brahmin followed the advise of the Sage and was relieved of Gohatya Dosha.
6. According to the Puran, when Sage Bharadwaj visited the kingdom of Avanti, King Uruchi enquired with the Sage about the most superior charity amongst all the charities. The Sage suggested that the Annadan performed at Darbharanyeshwarar as the most superior of all charities. The King came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva with great devotion. Lord Shiva granted him a boon. The King requested the Lord to bless him with everlasting grace and means to offer food to those who came to him. The King stayed back and devoted his entire life to the service of the poor.
7. Another Kshetra Puran is about a milkman who used to supply milk to the temple daily, on the orders of the local King. The accountant of the temple asked the milkman to deliver the milk to his house instead of the temple and enter it in the temple's account. The honest milkman refused to oblige, hence he was threatened by the accountant with punishment and drastic action. The milkman complained to Lord Dakshinamurti for justice. At that time, it is believed that Lord Dakshinamurti sent a trishul to punish the accountant. It is believed that the balipeetham which was in line of Trishul, moved slightly making way for trishul. Hence we find that the balipeetham is slightly away from the line of Shiva Linga.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Ashta Dikpalakas, Sage Agastya, Sage Pulasti, Arjun, King Nala, Lava and Kusha (sons of Lord Shriram), Sage Vyasa, Sage Shuka and Lord Balaram.
Special features:
1. After bowing to the rajagopuram, as we enter the temple we have to touch and pray at the entrance step.
2. This is one of the Sapta Vidanga sthalams.
3. This is one of the shakti peetham known as Praneshwari Shakti Peeth.
4. There are marks on the Shiva Linga made by the darbha grass.
5. The balipeetham is slightly away from the line of Shiva Linga.
6. In this temple the importance is to Lord Shani.
7. This is one of the Navagraha temples dedicated to Lord Shanishwarar.
8. There is no Navagraha shrine.
9. The idol of Shanishwarar has only two hands instead of the usual four.
10. In this temple premises there are 17 shiva lingas.
11. In the Vasant Mandap, there are stucco images depicting 10 types of dances performed by Lord Shiva.
12. There are paintings depicting the puran of King Nala.
13. The dhwajastambha (gold plated) is in front of the sanctum.
About the temple:
This temple covers an area of two acres with a seven tiered rajgopuram and two parikramas. There is a mandap at the front. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga. It was discovered amongst kusha grass (darbha). Hence the place is known as Darbharanyam. There are marks on the Shiva Linga made by the darbha grass. The balipeetham and Nandi are slightly away from the line of Shiva Linga and are facing the Shiva Linga. There is a huge Dhwajastambha (gold plated) in front of a sanctum.
Koshta murtis: Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga.
On the side we come across Lord Thyagaraja praised as Unmatta Nadana Thyagaraja along with his consort Goddess Nilothalambal. King Nala’s puran is painted in the outer prakaram. In the Vasant Mandap, there are stucco images of various dances performed by Lord Shiva. We come across the shrine of Lord Shanishwarar at the entrance, on the left side of Lord Shiva's shrine. The Shrine of Lord Shanishwarar has a small sanctum. Lord Shanishwarar is facing the east and is depicted with two hands.
In the inner prakaram we come across following idols and shrines: Shaiva Saint Sundarar, 63 Nayanmars, Lord Nalleshwarar, Lord Sthala Vinayaka, Lord Swarna Ganapati, Lord Subramanya, Lord Adi Shesha, Lord Nala Aranya Perumal, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Bhairav, Natraj Sabha and utsav murtis. On the right side we have the shrine for the milkman (cowherd), his wife and the accountant.
Maragada lingam is kept in safe custody. Abhishek and poojas are conducted for it at 8.30 am daily.
Other shrines at this place: Lord Swarna Ganapati, Lord Muruga, Lord Nataraja, Lord Somaskanda, The idols of Lord Adi Shesha, Lord Surya and Lord Bhairava are also found. We come across the idol of King Nala and the Linga worshiped by him.
Prayers:
1. Devotees take bath in the Nala Theertha to get relief from challenges posed by Lord Shanishwar and worship Lord Shiva.
2. Devotees take bath in the Brahma Theertha for relief from sins committed in past and present and worship Lord Shiva.
3. Devotees take bath in the Saraswati Theertha (Vani Theertha) for knowledge, singing skills and skills in poetry.
Poojas:
Daily six rituals from 6 am to 9 pm for Lord Shiva. Daily five rituals for Lord Shanishwarar. Special pooja on transit of Saturn, full moon, new moon in the month of Purattasi, pradosha pooja, special pooja on Fridays, Tamil and English new year.
Some important festivals:
Vaikasi (May-June): 10 days Brahmotsavam festival.
Maasi (February-March): Mahashivaratri.
Aani (June-July): Natraj festival.
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): On full moon day a special worship for emerald lingam, Navaratri.
Karthigai (November-December): Thiru Karthigai Deepam, Diwali.
Panguni (March-April): Panguni Uttiram. Festival on Uttara Nakshatra.
Thai (January-February): Pongal festival.
Timings: 6 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 9 pm
Address:
Shri Thirunallar Shanishwarar Temple,
Thirunallar,
Karaikkal,
Pondicherry (Union Territory)
Phone: +91-4368236530, +91-9442236504
Courtesy:
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ , https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/
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