The famous shrine of Lord Shnisvara, or Saturn, is located in the Siva temple in Tirunallar, five kilometres from Karaikkal (in the Union Territory of Pondicherry). While practically every big Siva temple contains a shrine to this Lord, the Tirunallar fane is held in particular sanctity. A great festival is celebrated when Saturn moves from one sign of the Zodiac to another. It attracts concourses of pilgrims.

The temple, which stands on the south bank of the Kaveri, is quite a large one. In its vicinity there are many other celebrated temples too, the Mariamman, the Pidariar, the Ayyanar. There are also many well know tanks, some of puranic celebrity.

Since Sambandar has sung of the temple, it must have existed in, or by, the seventh century. It figures in the account of the saint's reclamation to Hinduism of the celebrated Pandya king, Ninrasir Nedumaran (see above). After the king had been cured of his illness through the saint's interventions, the Jains, who had failed in their own efforts, challenged contest. It was agreed that both the parties should place in the fire some of their scriptures. The Jain works were burnt to ashes. But those of Sambandar were unaffected and, in fact, turned green. Among his works were the verses he had sung of this temple.

There are shrines to Sundarar and to Lord Thyagaraja among many others. There are some paintings and also portraits, which should be a royal or baronial patrons of the temple. The balipitha in front of the shrine of Lord Tirunallar is not in direct line with it, but a little away. Tradition says that in days of old a cowherd used to supply milk to the temple. The accountant demanded that he supply his own house with milk, but show it is the temple's accounts. When the honest cowherd declined, the accountant threatened him with penalties. The cowherd appealed to the Lord. He directed a lance against the delinquent. The balipitha moved aside a little so as not to interfere with its course.

The temple is associated with the story of Nala, so famous in Hindu legend. Nala and his wife, Damayanthi, were put to tribulations because she had preferred him to Kali in marriage. Kali set out to harass them. But, even after he had recovered his kingdom, Nala was still not himself. Narada said that this was the result of Lord Sanisvara's displeasure and advised Nala to go on pilgrimage. When he came to Tirunallar, the influence of Lord Sanisvara left him and he was cured. He made great gift to the temple, building structure and instituting festivals.

The temple is also celebrated for its shrine of Lord Thyagaraja. This Lord is enshrined in seven temples. The first is Tiruvarur, the second Tirunallar. The others are Tiruvoimur, Tirukkarayili, Tirukkuvalai, Tirunagai Karonam (now called Nagappattinam), and Vedaranyam.

VENKETESWARA TEMPLE | SRI KALAHASTISVARA TEMPLE | SAIVAITA TEMPLE | DANDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLE

VIRABHADRA TEMPLE | MINAKSHI TEMPLE | BHAGABATHI TEMPLE | HOYSALA TEMPLE | VIDYASANKARA TEMPLE

SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE (UDUPI) | SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE | BHARADARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE | SRI RAM TEMPLE

SRI NATARAJA TEMPLE | LORD SHINISVARA TEMPLE | LORD ANNAMALAI & GODDESSS UNAMMALAI TEMPLE

RAMANATHA TEMPLE | RANGANATHA TEMPLE | JAMBUKESVARA & AKHILANDESVARI TEMPLE

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