Arasaleeswarar Temple - Olindiyampattu

Arasaleeswarar Temple is located in Olindiyampattu village in Villupuram district of Tamilnadu State.

Here Lord Shiva is worshiped as Arasaleeswarar and Goddess Parvati devi as Periyanaayagi.

It is one of the Paadal Petra Stahalam 

This temple was built during the 7th century by Cholas.

The temple complex covers one acre and enters through a three-tiered gopuram, the main gateway. 

The image of Lingam is made of sand and sacred ablution is performed only on the Aavudayar.  

The central shrine is approached through the flagstaff and Maha Mandapam, which are axial to the gateway. The central shrine has an entrance towards the South and can be approached by circumambulating the shrine. 

The temple tank is located outside the main entrance tower. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of Vinayaka, Murugan, Navagraha, Chandikesa, and Durga are located around the precinct of the main shrine.

As per Hindu legend, sage Vamadeva visited many temples to worship Shiva. He came to the place and was standing under an Arasu (peepli tree) and felt that it would be nice if Shiva appeared. Pleased by the devotion of the sage, Shiva appeared in the place of the Arasu tree and came to be known as Arasaleeswarar and the place came to be known as Arasili.

As per another legend, a king named Sathyavardhan who ruled the place was a staunch devotee of Shiva. He installed a garden to garner flowers for his worship. Each day the gardener complained that someone stole the flowers of the garden. The king found that a deer was eating the flowers of the garden. Angered at the deer, the king shot an arrow at it which missed its mark but hit the Arasu tree behind. The king found blood oozing out from the Arasu tree, which the king saw as Shiva's incarnation. The scar mark in the Lingam of the temple is believed to be the arrow hit by the king.

The Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) is the temple's most important festival. It follows Chitra Pournami during the month.

Timings

6.30 am to 12.00 noon

4.30 pm to 8.00 pm 

How to reach the Temple 

62 km from Villupuram 

154 km from Chennai