Deities: Lord ShaniLocation: Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu
Other Deities: Darbharanyeswarar, Praneswari (Goddess).
The Saneeswarar temple of Sri Dharbarenyeswaraswamy Devasthanam attracts devotees not only from India but also from other Countries. This temple is unique in its kind and is the only temple dedicated to Lord Saturn where he is a blessing God having "ABHAYAHASTHAM".
Saturn is the most powerful planet affecting the life of every human being. The most dreaded Shaneeshwara was able to trouble everyone including Lord Shiva Himself. Devotees are requested to visit Shaneeswara temples and do special Poojas to please Him and get relief from their sufferings.
Saturn's position in your Horoscope indicates how well you accept responsibility, whether you are self-disciplined, and what delays and opposition you can expect to encounter. When its influence is prominent you tend to be reliable, trustworthy and patient. Saturn gives the power to endure, and provides the tenacity and perseverance to realize your potential.
As a negative influence, Saturn can make a person overly ambitious, calculating and selfish, solitary, inhibited and unhappy. Its negative influence is associated with inflexibility, cruelty, humourlessness and pessimism. Saturn also represents illness, handicaps and misfortune. Saturn is our destiny. It rules fate, the things we cannot escape, and the payment we must make for what we receive.
The Markandeya purana vividly describes the birth of Saturn. Samja, the wife of the Sun could not bear the intense heat of her husband. She created a duplicate of her form called Chaya, left her in the house and went away to her parents. The Sun not aware of this plot lived with Chaya, thinking her to be his wife, she begot a son to Sun and he is Saturn.Saturn is called Sanisvara. Sani means slow moving. In legends too, he is described as a lame person. The Sun begot Yama through his first wife Samja. In quarrel between Yama and Sani, the latter suffered an injury resulting in this deformity.
Silpa Ratnakara, describes Sani as black hued, having eagle as his mount, wields sula, wearing blue garments, blue flowers and ornaments. In the south, the crow is represented as his vehicle. Saturn seized Nala and he had to undergo several troubles on that account. Finally he bathed in Nala Tirtham, a sacred pond in Tanjore District near Karaikkal and got rid of the seizure.Today a big temple adorns the spot with the Nala Tirtham by its side. There are two separate sanctums, one for Darbavanyesvara and the other for Saturn. The main deity is a Vidangan.
It is a natural rock, and is known as Maragatha Lingam. At the time of the transit of Saturn in Rasis, devotees throng in lakhs to have a dip in Nala Tirtham and worship Sani. Small lamps of clay are filled with gingelly oil and lit. Thousands of such lamps are lit in the corridor and from far it looks like a bonfire. The legends declare that Sani is propitiated by offering gingelly oil, icon and cakes made of sesame grains. Besides, the temple authorities also arranged special VIP entrance tickets.
A famous legend associated with the Tiruvallur temple is that King Nala got rid of the aspect of Sani Bhagavan only after taking bath in the Brahma Thirtham of the temple, and on worshipping the God at Tiruvallur temple. Legend is that Lord Saneeswara was once waiting to catch Nala, noticed that he had not washed the back portion of his feet, while preparing for his prayers. Using this oppurtunity Saneeswara caught hold of Nala. As soon as Saneeswara caught Nala, tribulation started in his life. In a gambling he lost his kingdom to Pudkaran. Nala departed to the forest with his wife Damayanti after sending his children to their granpa's house. Saneeswaran continued troubling Nala even at the forest and made him leave his wife in the forest. A snake namely Karkodakan sent by Saneeswara bit Nala that made him black and look ugly. This legend depicts the serious effects of aspects of Sani Bhaghwan on a person's life. It is not that Saneeswaran is a destroyer alone. He is revered to be both, a giver and a destroyer It is believed that those who worship him are blessed with pleasures and all that they desire in their life.
Festival:
The transit of Lord Saturn from one house to another house in the zodiac once in two and half years is known as `Sani Peyarchi’ and Saturn who moves slowly takes 30 years to complete a round covering all the 12 Rasis (Zodiac Signs).
Lakhs of devotees from various parts of the country on Sunday thronged Tirunallar, the famous pilgrimage centre to offer prayers to Lord Saneeswara Bhagawan at the Lord Dharbaranyeswarar temple in connection with the “Sani Peyarchi” festival. Special ‘abishekams’ and ‘poojas’ were performed to Lord Saneeswara Bhagawan and, after adorning the ‘Gold Kavacham’ to the deity.
Special archanas were performed to Sani Bhagawan at Sri Vasishteswaraswamy temple at Thittai near Thanjavur which is called the Guru Parihara sthalam where a separate temple for Guru Bhagawan exists, at Sri Ramalingaswamy temple (108 Sivalayam) at Papanasam, Suryanarkoil, Navagraha Kshetra for Sun, near Aduthurai, Thingalur, Navagraha kshetra for Moon near Thiruvaiyaru etc.
Saturn comes into the life of each and every person some time or other, depending upon the horoscope at the time of his birth. So everyone should worship Him.
Sani Mantras:
Samanya Mantra:
Aum Sham Shanayshchraey Namah.
Beej Mantra:
Aum Praam Preem Praom Saha Shanayshchraey Namah.
Puranic Mantra:
Neelanjansamaabhasam Raviputram yamagrajam.
Chhayamartandasambhutam tam namami Shanayshchramm.
Vedic Mantra:
Aum Sham no deveerbhishtay Aapo Bhavantu Peetye.
Sham Yorabhi ratra vantu Naha.
How to reach:
by Air: The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli, 168 Kms. away
by Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Nagore, 10 Kms. away from here.
by Road: Karaikal is connected directly from Chidambaram, Mayiladurai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Thiruchirappalli, Thiruvarur, Velankanni, Nagappattinam and Nagore.
Visit www.eTirth.com for more information on Temples, Ashrams, Gurus, Festival and Daily Panchangam (Hindu ephemeris).
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