Tirunallar and the Tamil tirthas for Tarpan

Why this place matters

Tirunallar, in the Karaikal region of Puducherry on the Tamil Nadu coast, is famous for the Dharbaranyeswarar temple and its shrine of Saniswara (Saturn), together with the Nala Tirtham tank. The tradition there is the legend of King Nala being freed from the influence of Saturn. No established ancestor-rite tradition at Tirunallar itself is widely documented, so this page treats Tirunallar briefly and then describes the Tamil country's wider tradition of Tarpan and Shraddha, which is the part of this region that is well documented.

In Tamil households, Tarpan is called tharpanam (tharpanam = water and sesame offering to ancestors). It is offered on every Amavasya in many families, and with special devotion on three days of the year: Aadi Amavasya, Mahalaya Amavasya in the Tamil month of Purattasi, and Thai Amavasya. Rivers and the sea shore draw large crowds on these days. Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

Rituals performed here

• Cauvery (Kaveri) banks: Families bathe in the river and perform Tarpan at ghats such as the Amma Mandapam at Srirangam and the riverside at Tiruvaiyaru. News reports describe very large gatherings at these places on Aadi Amavasya.
• Rameswaram: The sea shore at Agni Tirtham is a major site for Tarpan and Pind Daan, especially on the Tamil Amavasya days. See the Rameswaram page.
• Thilatharpanapuri: The Muktheeswarar temple at Thilatharpanapuri, near Koothanur on the Mayiladuthurai to Tiruvarur road, is associated in local tradition with the rites Rama performed for his father Dasharatha. The name refers to sesame (thil) Tarpan. Sources differ on which district it falls in and on the temple's exact name, so confirm the location before you go.
• Tirunallar: Pilgrims who visit the Saniswara temple may also offer Tarpan at their own wish on the same trip, but this is not a recognised ancestor-rite site on its own.

For the general method see the Tarpan vidhi and Shraddha days guides on this site. Tamil Brahmin and other communities follow their own forms and sutras, so keep to your family priest's version.

Best time to visit

Traditional occasions. Aadi Amavasya, Mahalaya Amavasya and Thai Amavasya are the three great days. Each month's Amavasya is also kept by many families. Makar Sankranti and other days are marked in some households.

Practical season. January to March is the most comfortable, with warm days and mild nights. April to June is hot and humid. The northeast monsoon, from about October to December, can bring heavy rain, floods and cyclones to the delta and coast, which can close roads and sea access. On the big Amavasya days, ghats and temples are extremely crowded. The Cauvery's flow varies through the year and may be low in summer or high after rains.

Planning your visit

Tamil Nadu and the Karaikal region have many priests (vadhyars) who conduct Tarpan and Shraddha at the river and temple ghats. Ask your family priest or relatives for a name.

• Book through an official or well-reviewed channel, and agree on the scope of the rite and the dakshina (dakshina = the priest's offering) before beginning. Beware of touts at ghats and temple entrances.
• Time needed: a Tarpan takes an hour or two, and a full Shraddha a morning. Visiting several sites takes several days.
• Getting there: Tirunallar is a short distance from Karaikal town, which has a railway station. Tiruchirappalli is the main nearby airport for the delta; Srirangam and Tiruvaiyaru are near Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur. For Rameswaram, see the Rameswaram page.
• What to wear and carry: clothes you can bathe in and a spare set, a towel, sandals, a hat, water. Temples in Tamil Nadu often have a dress code, so check it before you go.

Practical tips

• Ghats are busy and slippery on Amavasya days. Keep children and elders close, and avoid swimming in fast water.
• Rooms in Srirangam, Rameswaram and Karaikal fill up for the big days, so book ahead.
• Official information is available from the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, the Puducherry government for Karaikal, and the district administrations.
• Confirm Amavasya dates against a Tamil panchangam or the temple's notice; this site computes them for your location.