(English) Thirunallar Shani (Shaniswaran) Pariharam / Dosha Nivarthi

Thirunallar 7 1/2 Sani Pariharam

It is said that Saturday is a prime day for doing 7.5 Sani (Sade Sati) pariharam, But then, one can do it on all weekdays in Thirunallar. The procedure is simple, and requires an hour max.

Make sure, you arrange for a stay. There are rooms and facilities available from Rs.30 to Rs.1500. For Rs.30, one can find the Devasthanam's Dormitory. It is located on the main road, near to Nalan Theertham Pond.

Here are the steps to do.

1. Nalan Theertham (Pond) Snaan.

The pond is maintained well, and the temple management has constructed many bath rooms, and dress changing rooms surrounding the pond. They are maintained well, and usually there are no complaints. The pond is also maintained decently, though you will find a lot of leftovers. The temple managment is doing its best to keep it clean. The water is constantly pumped out in one corner of the pond.

• First remove all your jewels, valuables, bracelets, silver araignaan, holy threads etc. Then with minimal dress you should step down in to the pond with Sesame Oil applied to scalp and body. (Do not buy dresses from the shops around. They are selling used dresses, towels. It is advised to buy black dresses / towels from your own place itself)
• Looks like, women can remove all wearables, except Mangalsutra / Thaali. I did not see any married women taking a dip in pond without Mangalsutra.
• After stepping into the pond, dip in completely 3 times. After dipping, apply shikakai, or Shampoo and wash completely. 
• Without looking back, walk up to the steps and wrap a new towel / veshti around and remove the wet dresses. Leave the dresses on the steps or in water. Make sure you do not step out of the pond's border completely. Then dry your body, hair and scalp. Wear new dress.

2. Lord Ganesha Temple (Pillayar)

The pillayar temple is located in one corner of the pond. This is where you should break the coconut.

• Buy a coconut and camphor from the nearby shops. 
• Walk into the temple, with the coconut and camphor in hand.
• Pray to Lord Ganesha, Lord Bhairavar and Lord Muruga.
• Walk out of the temple, and reach the spot where coconut are broken.
• Stand still facing east. Place the camphor on coconut and light it.
• Then slowly rotate the coconut around your head 3 times. Care shoud be taken that the camphor remains lighted on the coconut.
• After rotation, drop the burning camphor in nearby table and break the coconut by throwing it on the stone wall. 

3. Lord Dharbaranyeswara Swamy Temple (Main Temple)

The main temple is across the main road. It is walkable distance from the Nalan Theertham Pond.

• You can buy Archanai / Pooja items outside, as well as inside the temple. Items should include Oil Packet, Blue flowers, Lotus, Coconut and Banana.
• At the main entrance of temple, there are 3 queues. Free Dharshan, Rs.50 Dharshan and Rs.200 Dharshan. Pick one of your choice and enter the queue. Free Dharshan does not allows you to go near Shani Temple. You have to stand far from the deity.
•  Keep walking until you reach a point where Poojaris will take the coconut and do archana on the way. Handover the coconut and the poojari will recite archanai mantras.
• Move forward, and you will see a big hundi. Offer what you can. Next to the hundi lies a big vessel which is meant for collecting the oil packets. Deposit the oil packet.
• Immediately the queue will turn right, and you will be looking at Ambal. Offer your prayers to her.
• Then, the queue will turn left, and you will see Lord Shaniswara temple. The poojari may do special archanas if there is less crowd. Otherwise a simple camphor haarathi si what usually done. Offer the blue flower to the poojari.He will deposit it at the foot of Lord Shanishwara statue.
• Lord Shanishwara is a "Anugraha Murthy" here. So you can take the pooja items with you. No need to leave it there.
• After offering prayers to Lord Shaiswara, move ahead in the queue and enter the main temple of Lord Dharbaranyeswarar. Hand over the lotus flower to the poojari and offer your prayers.
• Move ahead and spend some time doing meditation in the dhyaan mantapa, where the Maragatha Linga is said to be installed.
• Next, walk around the prahaaram and come near the Temple office.

 4. Sesame Oil Lamp

This is the final part of the parihaaram.

• Near the office, there is a oil lamp Ticket counter   
• Pay Rs.5 for a lamp and get the receipt. Walk ahead, and hand over the receipt to the temple workers who maintain the lamp lighting area. You will get one lamp with sesame oil.
• Light up the lamp using any of the Kamakshi Lamps (one in each table) and place it on the tables there.
• Never light your lamp, from other lamps deposited by other devotees.
• Once done, walk through the side exit. Never exit the temple through the main entrance if you are doing parihaaram.

5. Annadhaanam

If you like to offer food to people, then you can buy food pockets outside and offer it the poor people and saadhus, who can be found on the way to Nalan Theertham Pond.

 6. Night Stay at Thirunallaar

This is the most important part of parihaaram. You should stay one night as close to the temple. There are hotels, rooms available around the temple in various budgets. Book one, and spend a night there.

In the morning, you can take bath and leave Thirunallaar.

Remember : You should not visit any other temple, or visit any body's home on the way to your home. Make sure you reach straight to your home.