Thirunallar Temple is also called as the Dharbaranyeswarar Temple. which is a famous Hindu temple in Thirunallar, Karaikal district, Puducherry India. moreover thirunallar is dedicated to Lord Shiva, morever it is known here as Dharbaranyeswarar and it has a special shrine for Lord Shani (Saturn). The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples which is each linked to a planet, and this one is for Saturn.
People believe that praying here can reduce the bad effects of Saturn like troubles or bad luck. The temple is very old it was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century and it is a place where millions visit to have a great darshan, especially during the Saturn transit (Sani Peyarchi) every 2.5 years. A holy tank called Nala Theertham is important, as bathing in it is said to wash away misfortunes.
The temple covers about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five tiered gopuram (tower) at the entrance of the temple. this temple It is 5 kilometers from Karaikal town and 154 kilometers from Trichy, the nearest airport. The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, but on Saturdays, it stays open from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM because Saturday is special for Lord Shani. During festivals, like Sani Peyarchi, millions of people visit, and special darshan tickets cost Rs. 30, Rs. 150, or Rs. 300. The temple is between three rivers: Noolaru, Vanchiaru, and Arasalaru, and has shrines for other gods like Parvati, Murugan and Ganapathy.
In this article, we’ll cover where Tirunallar is located, how to reach Tirunallar from the Telugu states, where to stay in Tirunallar, the history of the Tirunallar Shani Temple, and what makes this temple special. What did the American space agency NASA say about the Tirunallar Shani Temple? And how much budget is needed for this trip? We’ll explore all these details one by one
TTD Lucky Dip 2025 : Registration,Sevas & Process
How to reach the temple from Telugu states
Let’s now see how to reach Tirunallar from our Telugu states. Tirunallar is 7 km away from Karaikal town. Karaikal is in the Union Territory of Puducherry, but it’s not close to Puducherry city it’s 131 km away. Puducherry has four districts, and Karaikal is one of them. Chennai is 300 km from Karaikal. There are no direct trains to Karaikal from the Telugu states, so first, you need to reach Chennai. From Chennai Egmore station, the Karaikal Express departs every day at 9:00 PM. It then…
Best time for the visiting to the temple
From Karaikal railway station to the Tirunallar Shani Temple, autos charge around ₹200. If you plan to stay overnight in Tirunallar, don’t visit the temple for darshan on the first day. Instead, stay the night and go for darshan the next day. This is because, after darshan, you’re expected to return home directly. If you travel by the train I mentioned, you can complete your darshan and catch the evening return train. Most people here don’t stay overnight.
History of the Temple Thirunallar Temple
Due to the influence of Shani (Saturn), King Nala lost everything and endured a miserable life. To seek relief, King Nala praised Lord Shani in various ways, praying for liberation from Shani’s influence.Lord Shani appeared and told Nala that in a forest filled with darbha grass, there is a self-manifested (Swayambhu) Shiva Lingam. He instructed Nala to bathe in the pond near that Shiva Lingam and, with wet clothes, worship Lord Shiva to regain his former glory.
Following Shani’s guidance, Nala searched for and found the Swayambhu Lingam, bathed in the nearby pond, and worshipped the Shiva Lingam. Through this, he was liberated from Shani’s influence. Since Nala bathed in this pond, it came to be known as Nala Theertham. From then on, devotees have been bathing in Nala Theertham with wet clothes…
…and, with wet clothes, visit the Darbaranyeswara Lingam and Lord Shani. Afterward, they return to Nala Theertham, bathe again, leave their old clothes there, wear new clothes, and leave without looking back. If you’re only visiting for darshan, you can simply wash your hands and feet here and proceed to the temple. However, those affected by Shani’s influence should first bathe in Nala Theertham, go to the temple with wet clothes for darshan, return to Nala Theertham, bathe again, leave their old clothes behind, and head straight home. There are dress-changing facilities here for convenience.
What are the sevas are available in the temple
In Thirunallar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shani (Saturn), the following sevas (rituals) and darshans are available:
- Nithya Pooja (Daily Pooja) – Regular daily worship performed for Lord Shani.
- Shani Dosha Nivarana Pooja – A special ritual to alleviate the malefic effects of Shani (Saturn).
- Navagraha Homam – A fire ritual to appease all nine planetary deities, including Shani.
- Rahu-Ketu Pooja – Performed to reduce the negative influences of Rahu and Ketu.
- Sani Peyarchi Pooja – Conducted during the transition of Saturn (Shani) to a different zodiac sign.
- Abhishekam (Sacred Bath) – Milk, honey, or oil is poured on the deity as an offering.
- Archana – Devotional chanting of the Lord’s names with offerings.
- Special Darshan (Kattu Darshan) – A quicker darshan option for devotees with time constraints.
- Annam (Food Offering) – Donating food as prasadam to devotees.
- Oil Abhishekam – Offering sesame oil to Lord Shani, believed to reduce Shani’s harsh effects.
Devotees visit Thirunallar to seek relief from Shani Dosha and participate in these rituals for blessings and spiritual well-being.
What are the timings of the temple
| Category | Details | Timings |
|---|---|---|
| General Temple Hours | Morning Session | 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Evening Session | 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM | |
| Shani Sannidhi (Saturdays Only) | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (additional darshan for Lord Shani) | |
| Daily Pooja Rituals | Ushatkalam | 5:30 AM |
| Kalashanti | 8:00 AM | |
| Uchikalam | 12:00 PM | |
| Sayarakshai | 6:00 PM | |
| Irandamkalam | 8:00 PM | |
| Arddha Jamam | 9:00 PM | |
| Specific Seva Timings | Shani Abhishekam | 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 5:30 PM (daily) |
| Morning Aarti | 7:30 AM (daily) | |
| Evening Aarti | 7:00 PM (daily) | |
| Maragatha Lingam Pooja | Five times daily (aligned with pooja timings, specific hours vary) |
Contact Information
Address:
Arulmigu Darbaranyeswarar Temple (Shani Temple),
Thirunallar, Karaikal – 609 607,
Puducherry Union Territory, India.
Phone Numbers:
- Temple Office: +91 4368 236 236
- Enquiry / Pooja Booking: +91 4368 236 222
- Devasthanam (Administration): +91 4368 236 221
Email:
thirunallartemple@gmail.com