Arasaleeswarar Temple / Arasilinathar Temple, அரசிலிநாதர் கோவில். Arasili / Thiru Arasili / Olindiyapattu / Olundiyappattu, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Now this place is called Olindyapattu. This is the 31^st Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam of Thondai Nadu. 

Sekkizhar in his Periyapuranam describes that Thirugnanasambandar stayed for some time at Acharapakkam and worshiped Sri Aatcheeswarar. Then he left for Arasili to worship Arasaleeswarar. After crossing rivers and forests on the way, finally reached Arasili, and was welcomed by the Shiva devotees. 

    ஏறு அணிந்த வெல்கொடியார்

        இனிது அமர்ந்த பதிபிறவும்

    நீறு அணிந்த திருத்தொண்டர்

        எதிர்கொள்ள நேர்ந்து இறைஞ்சி

    வேறு பல நதிகானம்

        கடந்தருளி விரிசடையில்

    ஆறு அணிந்தார் மகிழ்ந்த திரு

        அரசிலியை வந்து அடைந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple and left for ThirupuravarPanangattur.

    பாடல் வண்டறை கொன்றை

        பால்மதி பாய்புனல் கங்கை

    கோடல் கூவிள மாலை

        மத்தமும் செஞ்சடைக் குலாவி

    வாடல் வெண்டலை மாலை

        மருவிட வல்லியந் தோள்மேல்

    ஆடல் மாசுணம் அசைத்த

        அடிகளுக்கு இடம் அரசிலியே

Moolavar : Sri Arasilinathar, Sri Aswatheswarar,

                Sri Arasaleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Periyanayagi, Sri Azhakiyanayagi

Some of the special features of this temple are …..

The temple faces east with an entrance arch and a 3-tier mini Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Chalukya King shooting a deer is on the top of the arch. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam with Rishabam are facing moolavar in the front mandapam through a jalara / window.  Moolavar is very short  under a Rudraksha mandapa and avudayar is also at the lower level. (There is an arrow’s scar on moolavar). In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Vishnu Durgai and Vaishnavai. Dakshinamurthy sannadhi was built like a temple with a small gopura.

In the outer prakaram Nalvar Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, Sri Valli Devasena Sri Subramaniyar, Navagrahas, Kalabhairavar and Suryan. There are a lot of stucco images and paintings around the entrance and praharam walls.

Ambal in a separate sannadhi facing south with simha vahana in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a Simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. The Pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, veerakandam and vettu pothyal. The Prastaram consists of Valapi, Kapotam and Viyyalavari. Bhuta ganas are in the valapi. An ekathala brick Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. The entrance to the sanctum to sanctorum is from artha mandapam through the south side entrance. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS 

As per the legend, the temple was built by the kings of Chalukyas. There is a Thirugnanasambandar madam/Mutt built by "Srimathi Jayalakshmi” on the left side of the temple and the seventh day’s festival is sponsored through the interest from a deposit made by her. It is believed that Thirugnanasambandar stayed at this mutt for some days. Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 1985.

As per the Vikrama Chozhas 6^th year reign inscriptions, this place was called Jayangonda  Chozhamandalathu Oymanattu also called Vijaya Rajendra Chozha Valanattu Peruvembur nattu devathana Thiruvaraisili. The same king's 12th-year reign inscriptions record this place as Oymanattu Thiruarasili and the 16th-year reign inscription records the same as 6^th year reign name. During Kulothunga’s 5^th year reign mentioned as Thaniyur devathanam Thiruarasili.

The inscription at Irumbai (Thiruvirumbai), Mahaleswarar Temple’s Vikrama Chozha’s 2nd-year reign inscription records that this place (Arasili) is mentioned as “Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Mathur nattu Olukarai alias Kulothunga Chozha nallur Thiruarasili Udayar Aalala Sundaranar. As per the experts, this Olukarai might have corrupted the present name of Olunthiyapatu. The sanga literature Pathuppattu’s 3^rd Chirupanatru Chieftain and a great gifter, Nalliyakodan belongs to Oymanadu in which Arasili was a part of it.

Vikrama Chozha’s 6th-year reign inscription (AR 194 of 1902) records the endowment of Sandhi lamp by Nalluzhan Pachai Selvan, for which 12 sava moova Peradu (sheep/goat quantity will hold the same number ).

Vikrama Chozha’s 12th-year reign inscription with his meikeerthi/title (AR 195 of 1902), records the endowment of a perpetual lamp for which 96 saava moova peradu/sheep/goats gifted by Semalam Chengattu Modakkan alias Puraiyur Nattu Periyaraiyan.

Kulothunga Chozha’s 5th-year reign inscription with his meikeerthi starts with "Poomevu Valar...." (AR 196 of 1904), records the endowment of a Perpetual lamp for which 30 Saava moova cows and another 12th-year reign inscription records 90 Saava moova peradu by Semalam Chengattu Modakkan alias Puraiyur Nattu Periyaraiyan.     

Vikrama Chozha’s 16th-year reign inscription (AR 197 of 1902) records the endowment of sandhi lamp by Manradi Chettan Thirvaiyarudayan alias Chithramezhikon, who belongs to Kulothunga Chozha nallur Pidagai Peruvelleri and gifted 100 cows.

Kulothunga Chozha's 3rd-year reign inscription (AR 198 of 1902) records some donations made to this temple by a merchant who belongs to Iratta Kulakalapuram and the inscription is incomplete.

Inscriptions connected to this temple are inscribed at Irumbaimahalam Shiva Temple...

Vikrama  Pandya’s 2^nd year, 2nd-day reign inscription (AR 191 of 1902) records the endowment of pooja for which donation of lands of both agricultural ( vilai nilam )and non-agricultural (kollai punjai), was made to this temple Thirumahalamudayar and Thiruvarasiliudayar Alalasundara Nayanar. The lands are at Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Mathur nattu Olukarai alias Kulothunga Chozha nallur and the land was handed over to the respective temple accountants. (Another inscription AR 192 of 1902 mentions the same content).

Rajanarayana Sambuvarauya’s 10th-year reign inscription (AR 193 of 1902), records the gift of land to the temples of Thiruarasili and Thiruvirumbai, as irayili after exempting all types of taxes to conduct the Aadi month festival, regular poojas, and maintenance. The same was signed by Sethirayan, on the 10^th day of 415. (inscription is incomplete).

Ref

Annual report on South Indian Epigraphy Year 1902. 

Inscriptions

LEGENDS

Vamadeva Munivar, to get rid of the curse, came to this world and worshiped Lord Shiva in many temples. When he was traveling from one temple to another, took a rest under a peepal tree. He felt comfortable and cool. He wished to construct a Temple to worship Lord Shiva in such a cool atmosphere. To Vamadeva’s wish, Lord Shiva appeared under the Peepal tree. He was very happy, took a bath in the theertha, and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him.    

As per the Sthalapurana, the Chalukya king Sathyavirathan, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva was ruling this place. Created a Temple with Nandhavana near the old Shiva Linga ( inside the peepal tree hollow hole / ponthu ) worshiped by Vamadeva muni. Lord Shiva in the form of Deer ate the flowers and nothing was left for the King’s worship. This was not known to the king initially and he suspected that somebody might have plucked the flowers. When he came to know that a deer was eating all the flowers, he chased and shot with an arrow. The arrow hits the head of the deer, runs, and hides inside the Peepal tree’s hollow hole. When the king's blood was oozing out of the hollow hole, the king thought that the blood might be from that deer. When he looked into the hollow hole found a Shiva Linga with a bleeding flood on the top, instead of deer. The king was shocked and prayed to lord Shiva to forgive him. Lord Shiva blessed him and gave him the boon of a Child. Indrasenan was born to King Sathyavirathan, who was also an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and built this temple. His daughter also Lived with him and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple till her last breath. As per hearsay, since Chalukyas worshiped Lord Shiva on a Pradosham day, Pradosham is famous in this temple.  It is also believed that this place obtained the name “Olunthiyapattu” – which  is derived from odi-olinthu –agapattu. The deer after being hit by the arrow ran, hid in the peepal tree hollow hole, and caught.

This temple is a Poosa nakshatra parikara sthalam since  Lord Shiva was under the Arasa Maram/ Peepaul tree as Sthala vruksham. Devotees also pray to Lord Shiva for child boon.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, 10 days brahmotsavam in Vaikasi ( May- June ), Mahashivaratri in Masi ( Feb – March ), Tirukarthikai ( November- December ) and some important functions. 

POOJA TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open for darshan between 07.00 hrs to 08.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline number is 04147 - 235 472. may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

From Tindivanam to Pondicherry bus route via Kiliyanur,  get down at Olunthiyapatu Junction from there the temple is about 2 KM ( Bus route via Kiliyanur – the last Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam – and Thailapuram),

The temple is 17 KM from Puducherry/Pondicherry, 23 KM from Tindivanam, 57 KM from Villupuram, and 147 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Puducherry.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---