Thirunallar - When Lord Shaneeswarar takes a prominent place in your horoscope a visit to this temple is a must as it reduces the ill effects. So after postponing for many months we finally took the trip to get the much needed blessings to lower the misfortunes ;).
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| Kollidam view on the way |
Being 280 kms away from Chennai, it takes more than 7 hours to reach Thirunallar by road. On a Sunday morning we left around 5:30 AM from Chennai. Our breakfast stop was at Saravana hotel just before Pudhuchery. As we drove through the rest of the distance, reached Seerghazi by 9:30 AM. From then on it was bad roads and curvy paths making the remaining drive quiet difficult. We reached Thirunallar beyond 11:30 AM. With the help of our local family friends got the car parked and went about to the temple.
First we walked to the temple tank and had the holy dip at the Nalantheertham. We are supposed to leave our dresses there and change in to new ones after bath. This doesn't seem to be correct with the kind of problem this creates to the temple and the environment too. After the dip we worshipped the Pillaiyar near the tank and offered him 9 coconuts. From here walked to the temple complex which is few meters away.
Being a Saturday the temple complex was flocked by huge number of devotees. After getting a Archanai plate and leaving our foot wears in the shop at the temple entrance we navigated towards to the temple. To our surprise the queue was blocked near the entrance of the main deities and even special ticket queue was chocked. In sometime found out that all the hungama was due to the visit of Puduchery Governor - Ms. Kiran Bedi. Till she left the temple premises the queue stood still.
We worshiped Lord Dharbaraneshwarar first. The temple plant is grass. As the Lord was found in a forest between grass as suyambu he got this name. When we come around the sanctum of Lord Dharbaraneshwarar, Lord Shani is found in the right side wall. This we were told is the original place of the Lord Shani in this temple. One can all see the Naayanmaars and sannadhi's of Vinayagar and Murugar in this praharam. Once we come out of this sanctum, on the right is Lord Shani's sanctum. Before getting his blessings we pray at the Goddess Parameswari's sanctum. In silver kaappu, Lord Shani gave us the darshan. The archani coconut is already broken before entering Lord Dharbaraneshwarar's sanctum so here the priest was kind enough to keep the archanai plate at the Lord's feet and gave it back to us. After a long wait we indeed were blessed with the fortunate darshana; thanks our Thirunallar friends.
Next they treat us to a feast for lunch and got us checked in to AVS Imperia hotel in Karaikal for the night's stay. After the temple visit we are suppose to stay in Thirunallar so we stayed in Karaikal, technically moving from the limits of Thirunallar town.
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| Railway to be crossed before beach |
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| Light house at the Karaikal beach |
In the evening we decided to stroll around Karaikal. Visited Karaikal Ammaiyar temple first. The Lord was Somanathar and Goddess was Someswari. They both reside in the inner sanctum while Karaikal Ammaiyar in the outer sanctum and provided her glorious darshan in flowers arrangement.
Our next stop was at the Karaikal beach. As the sunset happened it became difficult watch the beach so decided to come again next day.
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| He treated us with some lip smacking snacks |
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