Sri Mangala Shaneswara Temple is located in Karaiyur village in the Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. This small yet revered temple is on the banks of the Vennaru River, a tributary of the Kaveri, which devotees consider as sacred as the Ganges in the north.
Though the temple is dedicated to Lord Shaneswara, seated near the entrance to Lord Shiva’s sanctum, it is known as the Shankaranarayana Temple. This is because it enshrines Lord Shiva in the main sanctum, along with his consort Goddess Parvathi. Additionally, Lord Vishnu and his consort, Goddess Lakshmi, are enshrined in the temple’s rear sanctum, symbolizing the unity of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu as one divine entity.
Lord Shani is considered the most powerful among the Navagrahas (nine planets). His placement in one’s horoscope is believed to either elevate a person to great heights of glory and prosperity or plunge them into misery and poverty. A common belief is that during the Saade Sati period (7½ years of Saturn’s influence), individuals experienced severe hardships due to Shani Dosha.
According to the temple’s history, Lord Shaneswara began a journey from Thirukollikkaadu to Tirunallaaru to place King Nala under his influence as part of his divine duty. King Nala, a powerful ruler during the Mahabharata era, was cursed in a previous birth for punishing an innocent saint for 12 years. This sin destined him to suffer under Shani Dosha for 12 years in his next birth.
During his journey, Lord Shani, riding his divine crow (which loses sight at night), had to stop at Karaiyur as darkness fell. At the site, he worshipped Lord Shiva and sought permission to stay overnight, which Lord Shiva granted.
The next morning, after bathing in the Vennaru River and offering prayers to Lord Shiva and Vishnu, Lord Shani sought to resume his journey. Lord Shiva, pleased with his devotion, commanded him to remain in Karaiyur as Mangala Shaneswara to bless devotees. He decreed that those praying at the shrine would receive relief from Shani Dosha and gain strength to face life’s challenges.
The temple priest claims that devotees who pray here experience reduced suffering and improved mental strength. Additionally, local belief holds that offering sesame seeds mixed with water into the Vennaru River, while praying for ancestors, ensures their souls are free from hunger.
It is believed worshiping Lord Mangala Shaneswara at this temple can reduce the severity of these adverse effects. As Mangala Shaneswara, Lord Shani is said to mitigate the hardships of his devotees and help them lead a more peaceful life.
