Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple
Encyclopedia
Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple
dedicated to Lord Sani
(saturn
) located in Tirunallar
in Karaikal district
of Pondicherry, India
. 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.
, 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.
, 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.
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. 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) and the related temples are as under:
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
dedicated to Lord Sani
Sani
Sani may refer to:*Sani Resort, a resort in the peninsula of Halkidiki, Greece*Sani, Greece, a beach community south of Thessalonike*Sani, Mauritania*Sani Pass, pass in the Drakensberg linking Lesotho to South Africa*Shani, in Hindu astrology, Saturn...
(saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
) located in Tirunallar
Tirunallar
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Pondicherry , and can be reached by road from the town of Kumbakonam which lies in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu...
in Karaikal district
Karaikal district
Karaikal district is one of the four regions of the Union Territory of Pondicherry in India.Karaikal town about 16 km. north of Nagappattinam and 9 km.south of Tarangambadi is the regional headquarters...
of Pondicherry, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The presiding deity is Lord Siva, Dharbaranyeswar and the place Tirunallar
Tirunallar
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Pondicherry , and can be reached by road from the town of Kumbakonam which lies in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu...
was historically called Dharbaranyam. The temple is reverred by the hymns of 7th century Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
saivite poets, Appar, Cuntarar and Campantar
Campantar
Tirugnana Sampantar was a young Saiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived around the 7th century CE....
and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
The Temple
The presiding deity is Dharbaranyeswarar(Lord Siva) 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 saturnSaturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
, called Saniswarar, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. According to Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
, saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.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
CampantarCampantar
Tirugnana Sampantar was a young Saiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived around the 7th century CE....
, the 7th century nayanar
Nayanar
Nayanar can refer to:*Nayanars, Shaivite saints from Tamil Nadu, India.*Nayanar , an honorific title used by certain clans of Nair caste from the north Malabar region of Kerala, India.*Nayanar, title used by Isai Vellalar of Tamil Nadu...
and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
saivite poet has reverred the deity with four hymns, in one of which he refers to a contest with Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, and his victory. Appar and Cuntarar, the other nayanars
Nayanars
The Nayanars or Nayanmars were Shaivite devotional poets of Tamil Nadu, active between the fifth and the tenth centuries CE...
have glorified the temple with their hymns. Arunagirinathar
Arunagirinathar
Arunagirinathar was Tamil poet who lived during the 15th century in Tamil Nadu, India. He was the creator of Tiruppugazh, a book of poems in Tamil in praise of the Hindu God Murugan. He was a member of the Isai Vellalar community....
, a 15th century poet and staunch devoteet of Lord Muruga has composed hymns on the deity and this temple is attributed to Murugan
Murugan
Murugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
worship as well.
Processional Dance
The Thyagarajar TempleThyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur
Sri Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram hymns of Saiva nayanars, 7th century Tamil saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-The Temple:The temples complex occupies...
at Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
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
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu. 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) and the related temples are as under:
| Temple | Vidangar Temple | Dance pose | Meaning |
| Thyagarajar Temple Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur Sri Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram hymns of Saiva nayanars, 7th century Tamil saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-The Temple:The temples complex occupies... |
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 Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam The Kayarohanaswami Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva situated in the town of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is known as Kayarohana and his consort is Nilayathakshi. The temple has been in existence from the 6th century AD and has been praised by the Nayanmars... |
Sundaravidangar | Vilathithaanam | Dancing like waves of sea |
| Kannayariamudayar Temple Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil Kannayariamudayar Temple or Thirukarayil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India... |
Adhividangar | Kukunathaanam | Dancing like a cock |
| Brahmapureeswarar Temple Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai Brahmapureeswarar Temple or Tiurkolili is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India... |
Avanividangar | Brunganathaanam | Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower |
| Vaimoornaathar Temple Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur Vaimoornathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Tiruvaimur in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is revered in the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poets, Appar and Campantar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-The Temple:The presiding deity is... |
Nallavidangar | Kamalanaanathaanam | Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze |
| Vedaranyeswarar Temple Vedaranyeswarar Temple The Vedaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the coastal town of Vedaranyam which gets its name from the temple. The temple dates from the time of Chola king, Parantaka I and the presiding deity is Shiva.-Legend:... |
Bhuvanivividangar | Hamsapthanathaanam | Dancing with the gait of a swan |