Basic information about the temple
| Moolavar: | Arasaleeswarar | Ambal / Thayar: | Periyanayaki, Azhagiyanayaki |
| Deity: | Siva | Historical name: | Tiru Arasili |
| Vriksham: | Arasamaram | Teertham: | Vamadeva Teertham |
| Agamam: | Age (years): | ||
| Timing: | 7 to 12 & 4 to 7 | Parikaram: | |
| Temple group: | Paadal Petra Sthalam (Tondai Nadu) | – | |
| Sung by: | Temple set: | ||
| Navagraham: | Nakshatram: | ||
| City / town: | Ozhindhiampattu | District: | Viluppuram |
| Maps from (click): | Current location | Viluppuram (40 km) | Cuddalore (42 km) |
| Tiruvannamalai (99 km) | Kanchipuram (108 km) |
Location
Ozhindiampattu is located about 16km from Pondicherry.
Sthala puranam and temple information
After worshipping at several Siva temples to be relieved of a curse, Sage Vamadeva was sitting under an Arasu tree here, hoping that the Lord would appear and bless him. The Lord, understanding his plight, appeared as a Swayambhu murti. The sage immediately created a lingam after having a bath in the nearby stream and prayed to the Lord. As the lord was found by the arasu tree he is called Arasaleeswarar.
Over time, the lingam disappeared and was forgotten. King Sathyavardhan, a Chalukya king ruling this area, was childless. He created a garden here, installed anther lingam and prayed to it. One day his servant observed that there were no flowers at all in the garden.
This went on for a few days and he complained to the king. The king visited in the early hours to catch the flower thief, and saw a deer eating all the flowers. He started chasing the deer that went and hid near a tree. The furious king sent an arrow to kill the deer and found blood oozing out a hole in the tree where the deer went. As he went to get the deer, he found a Siva Lingam bleeding. The king prostrated in front of the wounded Lord and begged for mercy. Lord Siva appeared and told him that he only came as the deer to test the king, and blessed him with children. The lord is seen wearing a turban to hide the injury created by the king`s arrow.
Against normal depiction, Muyalagan is seen under the left foot of Dakshinamurti, holding a serpent. He is normally under the right foot.
Other information for your visit
The Maha Kaleswarar temple at Irumbai, another Paadal Petra Sthalam, is located 7-8 km away.
The temple is located not too far from Pondicherry, which can be used as a base to visit several temples nearby.
Contact
Gallery
TN Temples Project 