Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple

The Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, better known as the Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple, is a Shiva temple in Thirunallar village, 5 km from Karaikal in Puducherry. The present stone temple dates from the Chola period in the 9th century, with later additions under Vijayanagara rulers. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, praised in the Tevaram. Legend says King Nala, afflicted by Saturn, was freed of the curse here, so devotees troubled by Shani bathe with oil in the Nala Theertham tank and wear black.

A five-tiered gopuram leads into a two-acre complex ringed by granite walls. Shiva as Dharbaranyeswarar, believed to be made of darba grass, is worshipped as a linga, and a parallel shrine holds Somaskanda. Shani's shrine, beside the gateway, is treated as the doorkeeper and is worshipped first. The temple is also one of seven Saptha Vidangam sites whose processional Thyagaraja images are said to dance. Mahashivaratri is the main festival, while Sanipeyarchi, every two and a half years, is the great festival of Shani.