Dharisanam ENதமிழ்
Colourfully painted shrine towers and a stone-walled shrine among palm trees under a cloudy sky.
Swayambu

Arisili Sri Arasaleeswarar Temple 31st of 32 in Thondai Nadu · Temples near Pondicherry

Darshan today6:30 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Moolavar
Arasaleeswarar / Arasili Naathar
Ambal
Periya Nayaki
Theertham
Arasili Theertham / Vamadeva Theertham
Sthala vriksham
Peepal Tree (Arasa)
Pathigam by
Thirugnanasambanthar

Temple

Visited on: 17th September, 2016

Location

15 kms away from Puducherry on the Puducherry to Tindivanam route. After crossing Morattandi, there is a small road on the right going to Ozhindiyapattu village. Travel along that road for about 1.5 kms to reach the temple. Two more Paadal Petra Sthalam - Kiliyanur and Irumbai Maakaalam are located very near to this place.

General Information

Moolavar
Sri Arasaleeswarar / Sri Arasili Naathar
Ambal
Sri Periya Nayaki
Theertham (Holy water)
Arasili Theertham / Vamadeva Theertham
Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)
Peepal Tree (Arasa)
Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar
  • This is one of the 276 Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 31st Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.
  • Lord Shiva’s lingam in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested) and is very small in size.

History of the Temple

This temple has a small main tower (Rajagopuram) and a single corridor. It is east facing and is believed to have been built by the kings of Chalukyas.

Legend

The legend is that Sage Vamadeva visited many Shiva Sthalams seeking relief from a curse he had incurred. When he came to this place, he was taking rest for a while under a peepal (Arasu) tree. Mesmerized by the beautiful surrounding and atmosphere, he started imagining how pleasant it would be to have a temple for Lord Shiva built under this tree. Knowing the Sage’s wish, Lord Shiva blessed him with an appearance, relieved Vamadeva’s curse and stayed there as a swayambumurthy. Since the Lord appeared under an Arasu tree, he is named Sri Arasaleeswarar and this place itself is named Arasili.

However, over a period of time, this Shivalingam disappeared from this place and is believed to have gotten submerged under the earth.

Another legend is that the Chalukya King Sathyaviradhan, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva developed a garden (nandavanam) with flowering plants specifically for making offerings of flowers during worship. He did not have any children and was praying for the boon of child birth. However, he noticed that gradually the quantity of flowers was decreasing. He was intrigued and decided to keep a check on his garden. He found that a couple of deers were grazing the garden and trampling the flowers. Angered, the king tried to kill them with his arrow but the deers escaped into a bush. To the surprise of the king, a hunter came out from the bush and started fighting with him. Suddenly the hunter also went into the bush and disappeared.

The king realised that this was Lord Shiva’s doing and that it was the lord himself who had appeared as both the deer and the hunter. The king started clearing the bush and found a lingam which was bleeding after being struck by his arrow. It is believed that, at that point, Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him that he would have children. This lingam is said to be the one that was earlier installed by the sage Vamadeva. The arrow scar on this Lingam is still visible and is covered with a piece of cloth during poojas.

It is also said that the King Sathyaviradhan’s son Indirasenan and his granddaughter Sundari lived and worshiped this lingam here.

It is believed that the village’s name “Ozundiyapattu” is derived from “Odi olindu akapattu” which represents that the lord came here as a deer, hid, escaped and was later found.

A painting of a king drawing a bow at a spotted deer beneath a large tree, with a second deer and a crouching figure.
A small painted gopuram with many sculpted figures above a pillared gateway, seen under a cloudy sky.

Deities in the Temple

Shrines for Lord Varasiddhi Vinayakar, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devayanai, Lord Brahma, Sun God, Vishnu Durgai, Vaishnavi, Kala Bhairavar, Chandikeswarar and Navagraham can be seen in the corridor.

Salient Features

Lord Dakshinamurthy’s portrayal is somewhat different in this temple. The demon “Muyalagan” under Lord Dakshinamurthy’s feet is mostly depicted as facing the right side. However, in this temple he is facing left. Another unique feature of this shrine is that above Dakshinamurthy’s idol, there is a Natarajar sculpture in the “Ananda Thandavam” pose.

It is said that Saint Thirugnanasambanthar stayed here for a few days and worshipped the lord. A mutt called the “Thirugnanasambanthar Mutt” can be seen on the southern side of the temple.

A shrine doorway with a painted tower above it showing a seated Dakshinamurthy under a tree, with sages around him.
A very tall peepal tree with a thick canopy, and a small shrine at its foot.

Greatness of this temple

Since this temple’s Sthala Viruksham (peepal tree) is related to star poosam, this temple is considered as a Parihara Sthalam for Poosa nakshathirm.

It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva here will grant the boon of childbirth to childless couples.

Important Festivals

Since the kings from the Chalukya dynasty worshiped Lord Shiva on Prathosham days here, poojas on Prathosham days are famous.

Ten day Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June), Maha Shivrathri in Maasi (February-March) and Tirukarthikai in Karthikai (November-December) are the major festivals celebrated in this temple.

Temple Timings

06.30-AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.30 PM to 07.30 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Arasaleeswarar Temple,
Ozhindiapattu, Vanur Taluk,
Villupuram District,
Tamil Nadu - 605 109.
Tele: +91- 4147 - 235 472.

*
Open the map →
NavigateGet directions in Google Maps
Today6:30 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Phone+91- 4147 - 235 472
A stone shrine with a domed tower of painted figures, with a smaller shrine and another tower beside it.
A stone gateway with a name board in Tamil and a small tower above it with painted figures of deities and a deer.

Highlights

What makes this temple special

* Cards drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. “Read more” takes you to the full passage.

Greatness

A tiny self-manifested lingam and a Dakshinamurthy unlike others

The write-up names what sets this temple apart: its lingam, its Dakshinamurthy and the blessings devotees seek.

  1. A very small lingamLord Shiva’s lingam here is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested) and is very small in size.
  2. A different DakshinamurthyThe demon under Lord Dakshinamurthy’s feet faces left here, though he is mostly shown facing right.
  3. Natarajar above DakshinamurthyAbove Dakshinamurthy’s idol there is a Natarajar sculpture in the “Ananda Thandavam” pose.
  4. The boon of childbirthWorshiping Lord Shiva here is believed to grant the boon of childbirth to childless couples.
Significance

A Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam of Thondai Nadu

The temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam where Saint Thirugnanasambanthar stayed and sang, with legends of Sage Vamadeva and a Chalukya king.

  1. Place among the sthalamsThis is one of the Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalams, in Thondai Nadu.
  2. Saint ThirugnanasambantharThe saint is said to have stayed here for a few days and worshipped the lord.
  3. Sage Vamadeva's curse relievedLord Shiva blessed Vamadeva with an appearance and relieved his curse, staying here as a swayambumurthy.
  4. The lingam found by a kingKing Sathyaviradhan found a lingam in the bush; it is said to be the one installed earlier by Vamadeva.
Why devotees come

Why devotees come here

Devotees come for children, for relief connected to a star and for the Prathosham poojas.

  1. For children: worship Lord ShivaWorshiping Lord Shiva here is believed to grant the boon of childbirth to childless couples.
  2. For the Poosa star: a Parihara SthalamThe peepal tree is related to the star poosam, so the temple is a Parihara Sthalam for Poosa nakshathirm.
  3. For Prathosham: the poojasSince the Chalukya kings worshiped Lord Shiva on Prathosham days here, the poojas on those days are famous.
The small main tower at the entrance
276Paadal Petra Sthalams

Devara Padal Petra Sthalams

Legends of the temple

Resting under a peepal tree, Vamadeva wished for a temple there; Lord Shiva appeared and relieved his curse.

King Sathyaviradhan chased deer into a bush; a hunter fought him and vanished, and the king found a bleeding lingam.

The village name is said to come from “Odi olindu akapattu”: the lord came as a deer, hid, escaped and was found.

Sages and saints

  1. Sage VamadevaVisited many Shiva Sthalams seeking relief from a curse and was relieved of it here.
  2. Saint ThirugnanasambantharStayed here for a few days and worshipped the lord; a mutt in his name stands on the southern side.

Kings of the temple

  1. King SathyaviradhanA Chalukya king and staunch devotee who grew a flower garden for worship and was blessed with children.
  2. IndirasenanThe king’s son, who lived and worshiped the lingam here.

Festivals of the temple

    The Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi, Maha Shivrathri in Maasi and Tirukarthikai in Karthikai are the major festivals.

    Deities

    The deities of this temple

    * Drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. Where there is no photograph, the card shows the name.

    From the sanctum to the corridors
    Moolavarஅ
    Moolavar

    Sri Arasaleeswarar / Sri Arasili Naathar

    Lord Shiva’s lingam in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested) and is very small in size.

    Ambalபெ
    Ambal

    Sri Periya Nayaki

    Sri Periya Nayaki is the Ambal of this temple.

    Shrine in the corridorவி
    Shrine in the corridor

    Lord Varasiddhi Vinayakar

    Shrines for Lord Varasiddhi Vinayakar and Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devayanai can be seen in the corridor.

    Shrine in the corridorமு
    Shrine in the corridor

    Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devayanai

    Shrines for Lord Varasiddhi Vinayakar and Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devayanai can be seen in the corridor.

    A shrine doorway with a painted tower above it showing a seated Dakshinamurthy under a tree, with sages around him.
    Shrine in the corridor

    Lord Dakshinamurthy

    Lord Dakshinamurthy’s portrayal is somewhat different in this temple. Another unique feature of this shrine is that above Dakshinamurthy’s idol, there is a Natarajar sculpture in the “Ananda Thandavam” pose.

    Shrine in the corridorகா
    Shrine in the corridor

    Kala Bhairavar

    Shrines for Lord Brahma, Sun God, Vishnu Durgai, Vaishnavi, Kala Bhairavar, Chandikeswarar and Navagraham can be seen in the corridor.

    Visit & map

    Sacred geography
    Arisili Irumbai Mahalam Thiruvakkarai Thiru Vadukur Puravaar Panangkatur Thiruvamathur Thiruthuraiyur Thirumanikkuzhi Gramam Thiruchopuram Thiruvennainallur
    You are hereThis temple

    Schematic. Distances as recorded on the visit; directions approximate.

    12a6a12p6p
    Darshan today6:30 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
    6:30 – 12:004:30 – 7:30 pm

    Hours as recorded on the visit. Festival days can differ.

    Plan the day around it

    Address and phone

    Sri Arasaleeswarar Temple, Ozhindiapattu, Vanur Taluk, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu - 605 109.

    +91- 4147 - 235 472

    *

    A day of darshan nearby

    4 more sthalams within reach, nearest first: 48.4 km in straight lines.

    Map of Arisili and the sthalams nearby, in route order: Irumbai Mahalam, Thiruvakkarai, Thiru Vadukur, Puravaar Panangkatur. Arisili 1 Irumbai Mahalam 2 Thiruvakkarai 3 Thiru Vadukur 4 Puravaar Panangkatur 5 km N
    Drawn from coordinates. Straight-line distances; roads are longer. Faint dots are other sthalams within 50 km.

    Temple plan

    A stone gateway with a name board in Tamil and a small tower above it with painted figures of deities and a deer.
    01

    Reaching the temple

    Travel along that road for about 1.5 kms to reach the temple.

    1 / 5

    Summary written with AI help from the temple write-up.

    Pathigam

    Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam.

    Devotees visiting this temple should make it a practice to recite this Pathigam.

    V. Muthukumaraswamy

    Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam. Verse 1 of 10.

    Pādal vaṇṭaṟai koṉtṟai pālmathi pāypuṉaṟ gaṅgai
    kōdal kūviḷa mālai mathamuñh cheñchaṭaik kulāvi
    vādal veṇdalai mālai maruvida valliyam thōḷmēl
    ādal māsuṇam asaitha adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    The verse praises the Lord of Arasili, whose red matted hair is adorned with cassia flowers, the milk-white moon and the flowing Ganga. He wears garlands of flowers and white skulls, with a tiger's skin on his shoulder, and a dancing serpent is bound on him.

    Tap any Tamil word for its meaning

    Verse text and transliteration as given in the write-up. Word meanings and the English meaning are AI-assisted drafts.

    All ten verses

    1. 01

      பாடல் வண்டறை கொன்றை பால்மதி பாய்புனற் கங்கைகோடல் கூவிள மாலை மத்தமுஞ் செஞ்சடைக் குலாவிவாடல் வெண்டலை மாலை மருவிட வல்லியம் தோள்மேல்ஆடல் மாசுணம் அசைத்த அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Pādal vaṇṭaṟai koṉtṟai pālmathi pāypuṉaṟ gaṅgai / kōdal kūviḷa mālai mathamuñh cheñchaṭaik kulāvi / vādal veṇdalai mālai maruvida valliyam thōḷmēl / ādal māsuṇam asaitha adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    2. 02

      ஏறு பேணிய தேறி யிளமதக் களிற்றினை யெற்றிவேறு செய்ததன் உரிவை வெண்புலால் கலக்கமெய் போர்த்தஊறு தேனவன் உம்பர்க் கொருவன்நல் லொளிகொளொண் சுடராம்ஆறு சேர்தரு சென்னி யடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Ēṟu pēṇiya thēṟi yiḷamathak kaḷitṟiṉai ytṟṟi / vēṟu seythathaṉ urivai veṇpulāl kalakkamey pōrtha / ūṟu thēṉavaṉ umpark koruvaṉnal loḷikoḷoṇ suṭarām / āṟu sērtharu seṉṉi yadikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    3. 03

      கங்கை நீர்சடை மேலே கதம்மிகக் கதிரிள வனமென்கொங்கை யாளொரு பாக மருவிய கொல்லைவெள் ளேற்றன்சங்கை யாய்த்திரி யாமே தன்னடி யார்க்கருள் செய்துஅங்கை யாலன லேந்தும் அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Gaṅgai nīrsaṭai mēlē katham'mikak kathiriḷa vaṉameṉ / koṅgkai yāḷoru pāka maruviya kollaiveḷ ḷētṟaṉ / saṅkai yāythiri yāmē thaṉṉadi yārkkaruḷ seythu / aṅkai yālaṉa lēnthum adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    4. 04

      மிக்க காலனை வீட்டி மெய்கெடக் காமனை விழித்துப்புக்க ஊரிடு பிச்சை யுண்பது பொன்றிகழ் கொன்றைதக்க நூல்திகழ் மார்பில் தவளவெண் ணீறணிந் தாமைஅக்கின் ஆரமும் பூண்ட அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Mikka kālaṉai vīṭṭi meykedak kāmaṉai vizhithup / pukka ūridu pichai yuṇpathu poṉṟikazh koṉtṟai / thakka nūlthikazh mārpil thavaḷaveṇ ṇīṟaṇin thāmai / akkiṉ āramum pooṇda adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    5. 05

      மானஞ் சும்மட நோக்கி மலைமகள் பாகமு மருவித்தானஞ் சாவரண் மூன்றுந் தழலெழச் சரமது துரந்துவானஞ் சும்பெரு விடத்தை யுண்டவன் மாமறை யோதிஆனஞ் சாடிய சென்னி யடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Māṉañj sum'mada nōkki malaimakaḷ pākamu maruvith / thāṉañj chāvaraṇ mūṉtṟun tazhalezhach saramatu thuranthu / vāṉañj sumperu viṭathai yuṇṭavaṉ māmaṟai yōthi / āṉañj chāṭiya seṉṉi yadikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    6. 06

      பரிய மாசுணங் கயிறாப் பருப்பத மதற்குமத் தாகப்பெரிய வேலையைக் கலங்கப் பேணிய வானவர் கடையக்கரிய நஞ்சது தோன்றக் கலங்கிய அவர்தமைக் கண்டுஅரிய ஆரமு தாக்கும் அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Pariya māsuṇaṅ kayiṟāp paruppatha mathaṟkumath thākap / periya vēlaiyaik kalaṅgkap pēṇiya vāṉavar kadaiyak / kariya nañchathu thōṉṟak kalaṅgkiya avarthamaik kaṇdu / ariya āramu thākkum adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

      இப்பதிகத்தில் 7-ம்செய்யுள் சிதைந்து போயிற்று.(7th song has been destroyed)

    7. 07

      வண்ண மால்வரை தன்னை மறித்திட லுற்றவல் அரக்கன்கண்ணுந் தோளுநல் வாயும் நெரிதரக் கால்விர லூன்றிப்பண்ணின் பாடல்கைந் நரம்பாற் பாடிய பாடலைக் கேட்டுஅண்ண லாயருள் செய்த அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Vaṇṇa mālvarai thaṉṉai maṟithida lutṟaval arakkaṉ / kaṇṇun thōḷunal vāyum neritharak kālvira lūṉtṟip / paṇṇiṉ pādalkain narampāṟ pādiya pādalaik kēṭṭu / aṇṇa lāyaruḷ seytha adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    8. 08

      குறிய மாணுரு வாகிக் குவலயம் அளந்தவன் தானும்வெறிகொள் தாமரை மேலே விரும்பிய மெய்த்தவத் தோனும்செறிவொ ணாவகை யெங்குந் தேடியுந் திருவடி காணஅறிவொ ணாவுரு வத்தெம் அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Kuṟiya māṇuru vākik kuvalayam aḷanthavaṉ thāṉum / veṟikoḷ thāmarai mēlē virumpiya meythavath thōṉum / seṟivo ṇāvakai yeṅkun thēdiyun thiruvadi kāṇa / aṟivo ṇāvuru vathem adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    9. 09

      குருளை யெய்திய மடவார் நிற்பவே குஞ்சியைப் பறித்துத்திரளை கையிலுண் பவருந் தேரருஞ் சொல்லிய தேறேல்பொருளைப் பொய்யிலிமெய்யெம் நாதனைப் பொன்னடி வணங்கும்அருளை ஆர்தரநல்கும் அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

      Kuruḷai yeythiya maṭavār niṟpavē kuñchiyaip paṟithuth / thiraḷai kaiyiluṇ pavarun thēraruñ solliya thēṟēl / poruḷaip poyyilimeyyem nāthaṉaip poṉṉadi vaṇaṅkum / aruḷai ārtharanalkum adikaḷuk kidamara siliyē

    10. 10

      அல்லி நீள்வயல் சூழ்ந்த அரசிலி யடிகளைக் காழிநல்ல ஞானசம் பந்தன் நற்றமிழ் பத்திவை நாளும்சொல்ல வல்லவர் தம்மைச் சூழ்ந்தம ரர்தொழு தேத்தவல்ல வானுல கெய்தி வைகலும் மகிழ்ந்திருப் பாரே

      The last verse names Gnanasambandan of Kazhi as the singer and says that those who can recite these verses will be joyful forever in the heavenly world.

      Alli nīḷvayal chzhntha arasili yaṭdkaḷaik kāzhi

      nalla gñāṉasam panthaṉ natṟamizh pathivai nāḷum

      solla vallavar tham'maich chūzhnthama rarthozhu thētha

      valla vāṉula keythi vaikalum makizhnthirup pārē”.

    Photos

    Photographs

    7 photographs, in the order they appear in the write-up. Captions are AI-assisted.

    Colourfully painted shrine towers and a stone-walled shrine among palm trees under a cloudy sky.
    A painting of a king drawing a bow at a spotted deer beneath a large tree, with a second deer and a crouching figure.
    A small painted gopuram with many sculpted figures above a pillared gateway, seen under a cloudy sky.
    A shrine doorway with a painted tower above it showing a seated Dakshinamurthy under a tree, with sages around him.
    A very tall peepal tree with a thick canopy, and a small shrine at its foot.
    A stone shrine with a domed tower of painted figures, with a smaller shrine and another tower beside it.
    A stone gateway with a name board in Tamil and a small tower above it with painted figures of deities and a deer.