History of Sri Saneeswara Bagwan Temple and Sri Darbharanyeswara Temple
Temples are the symbolic sign of the abode of God and even though countless numbers of them are extent in our land they are only so many microcosms of the macrocosm. The abode of milk is the cow but the nectar could be extract only from the under through teats of this sacred animal similarly, God though transcendent is immanent in the temple and is cognizable only there in.
For millenniums, the Hindus have been extremely God loving and all over the temples in the land were built by the rulers, or the scions of rulers, and there is no wonder that the poet warns us ‘not to dwell in a place where a temple is non-existent’.
In Thanjavur District studded with scores of temples they exit in Tirunallar near Karaikal, the former French territory, the ancient temple of Sri Darbharanyeswara. This temple was visited by the Saint Tirugnana Sambandar in the 7th century A.D. who sang padigams (decadal verses) in praise of the Lord Siva. Likewise, his contemporary Saint Thirunavukkarasu and later, Saint Sundarar (9th century A.D.) had visited the temple and sung padigams extolling the Lord and Saint Arunagirinathar (15th century A.D.) had also visited it and sung hymns included in his monumental work Thiruppugazh.
The Origin of Place Name – Thirunallaru Sri Saneeswaran Baghawan Temple
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Puducherry, and can be reached by road from the town of Karaikal, an enclave which lies within the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Thirunallar is the most noted for the shrine of Lord Saneeshwaran (Saturn). Thirunallar Saneeshwaran Temple is also dedicated to Lord Darbharanyeswaran within the temple.
The name “TIRUNALLARU” represents the association of Nala, King of the Nishadha country who got his deliverance from the evil effects of Saneeshwaran (Saturn) by invoking the Lord’s mercy here. (Nala+Aru-Nallaru). The word “Aru” also conveys the meaning “to heel” and the two words taken together will mean Nala’s place of redemption or the place where Nala secured his redemption from the hold of Saturn through the Lord’s Grace. Others are inclined to read the meaning ‘between rivers’ in the name Nallaru, as this place is situated in the midst of two rivers in the north i.e. Noolaru and Vanchiaru, and one in the south, Arasalaru.
And this name as such occurs in the earlier padikam as wel as in the Inscriptions. Besides, the name of Nallaru this sacred place has also other name such as Adipuri, Darbharanyam, Nagavidangapuram, Naleswaram etc.
Contact
The Executive Officer ( Temples)
Sri Dharbaranyeswaraswamy Devasthanam,
Sri Saneeswara Baghawan Temple
Thirunallar – P.O. 609 607,
Karaikal. (Pondicherry UT)
Phone
Office : ( 04368 )236530
Fax : ( 04368 )236504
Email : sds.kkl@nic.in
