Thonda Nadu Temple 31. Thiru Arasali (Ozhinthyapattu)

OM NAMASIVAYA

 

 

 

THIRU ARASALI ( Ozhinthyapattu )

 

 

 

 

Location:

 

This temple is in Vanur thaluk, Villupuram district. It is in the bus route of Thindivanam to Pondicheri via Kizhiyanur. From Thailapuram branching road  it is 2 KM. Should get down at the Ozhynthyapattu bus stop and travel 1.5 KM North East to reach this temple. From Pondycheri this place is around 20 KM.

 

Reason for the name:

 

The Siva Lingam is a Suyambunathar and it is under Arasa (Peepal Tree - அரச மரம்). hence this place is called as Arasali. But now this place is called as Olynthyapattu. 

 

 

Swamy:  Arulmigu Arasalinathar.

 

Ambal:   Arulmigu Periyanayagi Ambal

 

Theertham: Gouthama Theertham ( Arasadi Theertham )

 

Sthala Viruksham:  Peepal Tree / Arasa Maram (அரசமரம்) 

 

 

 

Arulmigu Periyanayagi Ambal's Shrine

Arulmigu Arasalinathar

 

 

Temple: 

The temple is facing east. The Rajagopuram of the temple is of a 3 tier structure. Small temple with single pragaram. The Moolavar is a small Suyambu lingam and beautiful under a Rudraksha (108 beads) Pandal.  The arrow scar on the Linga is still visible. Both as a mark of respect to the Lord and as if to cover the scar injury, a turban is tied on the Linga during the pujas. Though the Murthy is small its Keerthi is very big. Ambal has a seperate shrine in the front facing south, In the pragaram Vinayagar, Arumugar with Valli and Deivanai, Sandesurar and Navagraham are there. 

Sthala Puranam: 

One brahnin due to his sins and karmas (கர்மவினை) born as worm (புழு). Even then as a worm he worshiped Siva intensively. Lord Siva was pleased and made the worm to born again in an orthodox Brahmin family with the name Vamadevan. He worshiped Siva and guided the people in to Saiva Samayam. People started addressing as Vamadeva Munivar. Sage Vamadeva visited many Siva temples. When he came to this place, he relaxed for a while under an Peepal tree (அரசமரம்)

thinking how pleasant would it be if Lord Siva was there under the tree. Knowing the Sage’s wish, Lord appeared there as a Suayambumurthy. The sage immediately had a bath in the nearby spring, installed the Linga and worshipped. As Lord appeared under an Arasu tree, He is named Arasaleeswarar and the place Arasali.

 In the days that followed, the Shivalingam in the place had disappeared. The region was under the rule of the Chalukya king Satyavradhan. He was a staunch Siva devotee. He had no issues. He created a garden, installed another Sivalingam in the place and was worshipping. One day his servant found the plants without flowers and informed the matter. The king did not take it seriously. The servant had to repeat the news next day too. To catch the flower thief, the king closely watched the place in the wee hours and found that a deer was happily eating the flowers. The king was angry that an animal ate the flowers meant for Siva Puja and shot an arrow. The deer escaped and hid in the hole in the Arasu tree. The king shot an arrow at the tree. The tree was bleading. The king thought that the animal was wounded and looked into the hole but found a Sivalingam only and not the deer. It was the same Linga that disappeared long back during Sage Vamadevar's time.. The king bowed before the bleeding Lord and sought his directions. Lord appeared before the king and said that the deer was only him. He blessed the king with children. This temple at Thiru Arasali came into being with the efforts of the king Satyavradhan.

The history about this temple is there in Pathma Puranam. A book titled Arasalikkathai writen by Thiru. Adiyakalaasiriyar give historical information about this temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pathigam:

 

 

பாடல் வண்டறை கொன்றை பால்மதி பாய்புனற் கங்கை

கோடல் கூவிள மாலை மத்தமுஞ் செஞ்சடைக் குலாவி
வாடல் வெண்டலை மாலை மருவிட வல்லியந் தோல்மேல்
ஆடல் மாசுணம் அசைத்த அடிகளுக் கிடம்அர சிலியே

 

                                           ---------------- 2nd Thirumurai   திருஞானசம்பந்தர் 

 

Festivals:

10 day Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam in May-June, Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Tirukarthikai in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

 

 

Timings:   7.00 AM to 12.00 Noon

                  4.00 PM to  7.00 PM

 

 

 

Contact:   Kumar Gurukkal 04147 - 235472

                 Ganesa Gurukkal 04147- 295376 / 9994476960

                

 

 

Address:  Sri Arasaleeswarar Temple, Ozhindhiampattu-605 109, Villupuram district.

 

 

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM