Sri Arasaleeswarar temple - Viluppuram District

Moolavar	Arasaleeswarar
Urchavar	-
Amman / Thayar	Perianayaki
Thala Virutcham	Arasu tree (Peepal tree)
Theertham	Vamana Theertham
Agamam / Pooja	Karanam, Kameekam
Old year	1000-2000 years old
Historical Name	Arasili
City	Ozhindhiampattu
District	Viluppuram
State	Tamil Nadu

         

Temple History:   
         
     Sage Vamadeva visited many Shiva sthalas seeking relief from a curse he incurred.  When he came to this place, he relaxed for a while under an Arasu tree thinking how pleasant would it be if Lord Shiva was there under the tree.  Knowing the Sage’s wish, Lord appeared there as a swayambumurthy, relieved Vamadeva of his curse.  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 Arasili. In the days that followed, the Shivalinga in the place had disappeared.  The region was under the rule of Chalukya king Satyavradhan.  He was a staunch Shiva devotee.  He had no issues.  He created a garden, installed another Shivalinga 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 Shiva 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 bled.  The king thought that the animal was wounded and looked into the hole but found a Shivalinga only and not the deer.  It was the Linga that disappeared long back.  The king bowed before the bleeding Lord and sought His directions.  Lord appeared before the king and said that the deer was but He.  He blessed the king with children.  The temple came into being with the efforts of the king.

Lord Shiva as a small swayambumrthi Linga graces the devotees under a Rudraksha (108 beads) Pandal – tent.    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.  Saint Sambandar stayed here for a while and sang pathigams – set of 10 verses.  Mother Perianayaki graces from a separate shrine facing south.   
           
 Greatness Of Temple:   
         
     Lord Dakshinamurthy graces from the goshta wall.  The depiction of Muyalagan, symbol of ignorance is under the left leg of the Lord holding a serpent against the traditional right.  Lord Nataraja graces above in the Aananda Thandava (blissful dancing) posture.  It is said that Lord Dakshinamurthy symbolizes Peace and Lord Nataraja Bliss telling mankind that they have to practice Ananda-bliss through Silence-Peaceful state of mind.  It is a rare portrayal of Lord Shiva’s Upadesa as Dakshinamurthy combined with the bliss embodied in Lord Nataraja.

Lord Mahavishnu graces on the ghosta-wall around the sanctum sanctorum facing west.  Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai, Bhairava, four Saivite Saints are in separate shrines in the prakara.   


Singers:   
         
     The Lord of the temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Tirugnanasambandar.   Says the saint,   Arasili is the abode of Lord who drove away Kala the God of Death, who conquered  cupid (Manmatha) the deity of passion and lust, living on the alms offered by others, wearing Kondrai flower and tortoise garlands and sacred ash sprayed over His body.   This is the 31st temple in the Thondainadu region praised in Thevaram hymns.   
          
 
Festival:   
          
     10 day Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam in May-June, Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Tirukarthikai in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple.   
            

 Temple's Speciality:   
          
     Lord Shiva is swayambumurthy in the temple.   
          
 
Opening Time:   

          
     The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to m7.00 p.m. continuously.   
           
Address:   
         
     Sri Arasaleeswarar Temple, Ozhindhiampattu-605 109, Villupuram district.   
         
    
Phone:   
         
     +91- 4147 - 235 472   
          
     
General Information:   
         
     Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Lord Varasiddhi Vinayaka.  The Rajagopuram of the temple is of a 3 tier structure.   
         

 
Prayers   
          
     It is believed that performing abishek to Lord with the leaves of Arasu tree would bring back the positions lost by the devotee earlier and also reward with promotions.   
          
    
Thanks giving:   
          
     Realizing their wishes, devotees offer vastras to Lord and Mother and do Angapradakshinam-rolling around the prakara.  

          

Sri Chandramouleeswarar temple - Viluppuram District

Moolavar	Chandramouleeswarar
Urchavar	-
Amman / Thayar	Amirthambikai
Thala Virutcham	Vilwa
Theertham	Surya Pushkarini
Agamam / Pooja	-
Old year	1000-2000 years old
Historical Name	Vakrapuri
City	Tiruvakkarai
District	Viluppuram
State	Tamil Nadu

Temple History:  
         
     Lord Varadaraja Perumal destroyed demon Vakrasura.  Vakrakali destroyed Dhunmukhi, sister of Vakrasura.  Dhunmukhi was pregnant when Kali attacked her.  According to rules, killing a Shisu-child is a sin.  So Vakrakali took out the child from her womb and wore it as ring on her right ear.  As Kali destroyed the sister of Vakrasura, She stayed here in the temple as Vakrakali.  She was in a furious temper.  Acharya Sri Sankara cooled down the Goddess by installing Sri Chakra on Her left leg.   As Kali is the deity for the serpent planets Rahu and Ketu, while circumambulating the shrine, 4 rounds should be clockwise and 5 anti-clockwise.

The place became popular because of the grace of Mother Vakrakali Amman.  The place is known as Vakra Shanti Tiruthalam.  The idol of Mother Vakrakali is so devotionally sculpted as Patteeswaram Durga, Chidambaram Brhamma Chamundeeswari and Thillai Kali.  Traditionally, Kali temples are at the border areas of the place.  At Tiruvakkari, the shrine is under the Rajagopuram of the main Shiva temple at the entrance.

The idol of Vakrakali is awe inspiring.  The head has flame hairs. A skull is the crown.  The ear ring is the Sishu in the right ear.  She has eight hands.  The right hands hold weapons as Pasam, discus, sword, skull of a wild animal.  She is also wearing a garland crosswise of the heads of the demons as the upper sari ending on the right hand through breasts. 

 Greatness Of Temple:   
         
     There are two famous Lord Shiva temples with Panchamukha Linga (Linga with five faces) only in Nepal in North and Kalahasthi in South in Andhra Pradesh.  But a three faced Linga – Mummukha Linga – is only at Tiruvakkarai.  The Mukha looking east is Tathpurusha Linga, the one facing north is the Vamadeva Linga and the one facing south is the Agora Linga.  Agora Linga has two sharp teeth on sides, visible only during abisheks.

There are many things in the temple that are vakra in nature-contradictory to tradition.  The flag post is slightly on the north side.  Generally, one can have the darshan of the deity from the very entrance under the main tower.  None of main features in the temple-the Rajagopuram, flag post, Nandhi are on a straight line and are found away from one another. 

The devotee crowd in the temple is huge at 12.00 p.m. (midnight) on poornima-full moon days and 12.00 a.m. on new moon days when Jyoti darshan is offered to Mother Vakrakali Amman.  That is the light lit above the tower mandap.  This darshan is very important for the devotees.  The Sri Chakra, installed by Acharya Sri Sankara is on the left of Mother Vakrakali.  The discus of Lord Varadaraja Perumal is differently seen in the temple.

This is the place where saint Kundalini Siddha attained Samadhi which is within the temple itself.  The ear rings of Mother Vakrakali are designed as a little child.  Mother Vakrakali graces in the temple in a smiling-merciful form – Shanta Swarupi.

The crow, being the vahan of Sani Bhagwan is on the left against the right.  Those facing Vakra Sani period (some times planets use to move retrograde called Vakra), pray here for relief from its effects.

The cremation ground is just opposite Mother’s shrine.
    


 Singers:
         
     The Lord of the temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of saints Tirugnana Sambandar and Sundarar.  This is the 30th temple in Thondai Naadu region praised in the Thevaram hymns.    
         
  
Festival:   
          
     One day Chitra Poornima Vakrakaliamman procession in April-May; Tamil Near Day falling almost on April 14 with Chandra Mouleswarar float festival; Kanum Pongal on the next day of Makara Sankranti falling almost on January 15; Aadi Kruthikai in July-August; Thai Kruthikai in January-February; Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September; Vijayadasami in September-October; Karthikai Deepam in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple when special pujas are dedicated to Mother Vakrakalai Amman. Devotee crowd is huge on Tuesdays, Sundays, Ashtami and Navami days. Though a Shiva temple, Mother Vakrakali is all prominent in the shrine.   
          
 Temple's Speciality:   
          
     The presiding deity graces as a Mumukha Linga-three faced Linga. This is a very rare form. The Atma Linga is on the western side of Kali Shrine also known as Kanda Lingam worshipped by demon Vakrasura. This Linga is very cool during summer. Water pearls stay on the Linga during monsoon.   
          
Opening Time:   

          
     The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.   
         
 Address:   
         
     Sri Chandramouleeswarar Temple, Tiruvakkarai Post-604 304, Villupuram district.   
         
     Phone:   
         
     +91 - 413 2680870 , 2688949, 94435 36652   
          
 General Information:   
         
     Lord Muruga in the temple is praised in the Tirupugazh hyms of saint Arunagirinathar.   Lord Chandramouleeswara is also praised as Chandrasekhara, Piraisoodia Peruman.  Mother is praised as Amirthambikai, Vadivambikai.   
         


 Prayers
          
     Devotees pray to Lord Shiva for mental peace, for relief from adverse planetary effects, removal of obstacles in undertakings, for removal of adverse effects following from last birth, for safety and welfare of children and for total solutions for any problem threatening self and the family.

Besides seeking above boons, devotees pray to Mother Vakrakali for happy wedding long delayed by lighting lamps in the Deepa Lakshmi shrine in lime cups, tie mangal sutras.  Devotees place their appeals to Lord in writing and tie them in the Trident.   
          
 Thanks giving:   
          
     Those seeking happy wedding, contribute mangalsutras, offer Sari and garlands to Mother. Those seeking child boon place cradles and offer coins equal to their weight called Thulabaram. Traders offer contributions for temple maintenance and renovation projects. Abisheks are offered with milk, green coconut curd, sacred ashes-Vibhuti, sandal, panchamirtham, honey, turmeric powder etc. They do Alankara-dressing to Mother Vakrakali with sandal paste. Those regarding Vakrakali as their family deity, tonsure their heads, conduct ear boring ceremonies for children, roll around the prakara (anga pradakshinam), offer chain lamps-Saravilakku and Kuthuvilakku, and light ghee lamps. Devotees perform 1008 Kalasa (pots) abishek to Lord along with abisheks with other usual items. 1008 conch abishek to Mother Vakrakali, and milk abishek of 1008 pots of milk. They offer sari to Mother. Devotees prepare Prasad and distribute to visitors and also arrange feeding-Annadhan.   
         
 

Location :

The devotee has to take the Tindivanam-Puducherry bus running through Mylam and get down at Perumbakkam stop. Tiruvarai temple is 7 km from this place. Bus facility is available from Tindivanam. Hiring a cab or auto would be very convenient          
         

Near By Railway Station :

Tindivanam