Saturn in transit
K. SUBRAMANIAM
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`Sani Peyarchi' falls on June 27 this year and Lord Saneeswarar transits from Mithuna rasi to Kataka rasi.
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Lord Saneeswarar at Tirunallar
Lakhs of devotees have started pouring into the small town of Tirunallar, about five km from Karaikal, Pondicherry, for worshipping and offering prayers to Lord Saneeswara at Sri Dharbaranyeswarar temple in Tirunallar on June 27 (Monday) when Lord Saturn transits from Mithuna Rasi to Kataka Rasi (Gemini to Cancer) at 1.24 a.m. The Karaikal administration has made elaborate arrangements for the devotees and pilgrims to have darshan of Lord Saneeswara during the `Sani Peyarchi' day. The holy tanks of `Nala Theertham,' `Saraswathi Theertham' and `Brahma Theertham' had been cleaned and fresh water was let into them a week ago.
Lord Saneeswara or Sanaischara (one who moves slowly) at Tirunallar is not the presiding deity and is a sub-shrine of Lord Dharbaranyeswarar temple located near the inner tower of the temple, known as `Kattai Gopuram.' Tirunallar is the holy abode of Lord Saneeswara and the deity faces east with `Abhaya Varada Hastham' and considered as `Anugraha Murthi, bestowing good things to the devotees.
Tirunallar's original name was `Dharbaranyam' or the place in a forest of Kusa grass (Dharbam), according to one of the places sanctified by the Theravam songs.
Holy hymns
According to legend, Brahma and many sages worshipped Lord Siva at this place and the Lord, who appeared before them, took the form of the Lingam after teaching them the Vedas. Brahma asked the divine sculptor to establish a temple in the place and also named it Adhipuri. Saints Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnanasambandar have also sung hymns in praise of Lord Saneeswara. Tirunallar is sanctified as one of the holy places in the Thevaram songs and the place is famous for its shrine dedicated to Saneeswara. Though almost all Siva temples and even some Vishnu temples have a shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas (nine planets), Tirunallar is the only place where Lord Saneeswara is accorded a special status as it was here that Nala, the legendary king of Nishadha country, worshipped Lord Dharbaranyeswarar and Lord Saneeswara and got relieved of the evil effects due to affliction of Saturn.
When Saturn passes through the `Janma Rasi' in one's birth chart, He causes untold hardship to him or her and causes more hardship when He passes through the eighth house from one's `Janma Rasi' which is also known as `Asthamathu Sani.' But these adverse effects affect the person only if he or she does not lead a righteous life. If one treads the path of virtue and worships Lord Saneeswara and other gods, he or she can ward off the evil effects to a great extent.
The transit of Lord Saturn from one house to another every two and half years is known as `Sani Peyarchi' and Saturn (moves slowly) takes 30 years to complete a round covering all the 12 Rasis.
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