Chandramouleeswarar – Shiva Temple, Thiruvakkarai/ Vakra Kaliamman Temple

Although this is a Paadal Petra Sthalam praised by Gnanasambandar, it is more popularly known as Vakra Kaliamman temple. The special feature of the temple is a very rare form of the presiding deity known as Mumukha Linga (Three faced linga). Lord Shiva’s face is on the front of the linga while the faces of Vishnu and Brahma are flanked on either sides. As.htabhuja Kali (eight armed Kali) graces the devotees in a separate shrine located just at the entrance of the temple. Praying at this temple is said to give child boon, alleviate the problems faced in married life and other benefits in temple. Full moon day is a festival day during which special poojas are conducted for Kali.

The temple is open throughout the day from 7 am to 8:30 pm daily.

Lord Siva: Chandramouleeswarar,Chandrasekharar

Ambal (Goddess): Amritheswari, Vadivambigai

Sthala Vriksham : Vilva

Theertham : Surya Pushkarni

How to reach

There is a place called Perambakkam located on the Tindivanam-Mayilam-Pondicherry road ( bus services available from Tindivanam). There will be an entrance arch just opposite to Perambakkam bus stop which leads to Thiruvakkarai at about 7 kms from the arch.  If travelling by bus alight at Perambakkam bus stop and from there share auto services are available to reach the temple. Alternatively this place can be reached from Villipuram also ( about 30 kms ).

Temple Legend

Vakran, a demon and devotee of Lord Shiva Him worshipped Him here and hence the place got the name Vakkarai. Nevertheless, Vakran was a demon and Mahavishnu took the task of slaying him. When Vishnu was trying to kill Vakran, the blood of the demon spilled on the floor and a new demon was forming from each of the blood drop thus making it impossible to kill him. Kali joined the battle to assist Vishnu and she cleared up the blood of the demon as and when it fell thereby preventing the manifestation and resulting in extinction of the demon. Seeing this, Vakran’s sister Dhunmukhi got enraged and had a fierceful battle with Kali, mother Kali killed her too. But Dhunmukhi was pregnant at the time of death and the fetus in her womb was worn by Kali as ear rings as a remedy to the sin of killing a pregnant woman.

Nearby attractions

There is a famous Lord Murugan temple at Mailam which is nearby.

Agatheeswarar – Shiva Temple, Kiliyanur

This is an ancient (more than 1200 yrs old) small temple praised by Gnanasambandar. This is a recently discovered 276th Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Lord Siva: Agatheeswarar
Ambal (Goddess): Akilandeswari
Sthala Vriksham : Vanni
Theertham : Agni

How to reach

This temple can be reached either from Tindivanam or Puducherry. The place is located at about 2kms from the highway 66 (Tindivanam to Puducherry passing via Kiliyanur). There are no direct buses to the temple. Auto facility is available from a nearby place called Thiruchitrambalam Koot road which can be reached by bus from Tindivanam.

Temple Legend
As per the legend, the presiding deity was installed by sage Agasthiyar and worshipped by Sukar, Aadhisheshan,, and Kalava Maharishisheshan.

Nearby Attractions
Two more Paadal petra sthalams – Olinthiyampattu and Irumbai Maakalam are located at a distance of about 8 kms from this place. Thiruvakkarai another shrine is located at about 25 kms from here.

Arasilinathar – Shiva Temple, Olunthiyapattu

This place was earlier called as Thiruarasili but currently named as Oluthiyapattu. This temple has been praised by Gnanasambandar.

The Siva Lingam is very small in this temple but extremely beautiful under a canopy of rudrashka beads. There will be a scar on the lingam which is normally kept closed by a turban. This Siva Lingam is said to have disappeared during sage Vamadeva period and again reappeared for Chalukya King Satyavratan. Hence the place is called as Olunthiyapattu (Ozhinthu in Tamil means “lost” and Agapatathu means “got back”. Ozhinthu + Agapatathu = Olunthiyapattu in due course). This temple is a remedial shrine (Parihara sthalam) for anybody born in Poosam star and having dosha.  Open from 7 am to 8:30 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm daily.

Lord Siva: Arasilinathar
Ambal (Goddess): Periyanayaki
Sthala Vriksham : Arasa maran
Theertham :

How to reach
This temple can be reached either from Tindivanam or Puducherry. The place called Olunthiyapattu is located on the highway 66 from Tindivanam to Puducherry passing via Kiliyanur. Temple is located at about 2 kms inside from the highway. There are no direct buses to the temple. Auto facility is available from a nearby place called Thiruchitrambalam Koot road which can be reached by bus from Tindivanam.

Temple Legend
Sage Vamadeva was visiting various Shiva temples in order to get relief for his curse. When he was in this place, he was resting under a Arasa Maram (Banyan Tree).  He mused of constructing a Shiva temple under the cool shade of this tree and to his surprise Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a small Linga and relieved him of his curse. Since the Lord appeared as Swayambhu under the Arasa maram He is called as Arasilinathar.

But after the period of Sage Vamadeva, this Shiva linga went into the earth and disappeared. After several years, king Satyavratan belonging to Chalukya dynasty ruled this region. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva but he had no heirs to succeed his throne. He had set up an exclusive garden that grew flowers for the daily prayers of Shiva. Every day the King used to send his workers to fetch the flowers for Pooja. One day, the worker returned back to the King and reported that were no flowers in the garden. Again next day the worker came back without flowers. This has continued for few more days and the King grew suspicious that someone had been plucking the flowers stealthily. To find the truth, he hid himself in a bush near the garden along with some of his soldiers. To his surprise, he saw a deer eating away all the flowers and started chasing the deer. The deer because of its deftness escaped the chase and hid in a large cavity in a Banyan tree. The King shot an arrow which went inside the cavity of the tree, soon there was a trail of blood. The King thought it was from the deer which he had shot and checked the cavity. To his great surprise, he could not find the deer inside but was shell shocked to see a small Shiva linga bleeding. He prayed to Shiva who appeared who manifested in His divine form and let the king know that He was the one who came as a deer and the linga is the same as the one that manifested for Sage Vamadeva. The King was graced with a male child and several other prosperity by the Lord. The King constructed this temple and worshipped the Siva lingam given by the lord. The picture below shows this legend being depicted in the front arch of the temple.

Nearby Attractions
Puducherry is very close to this temple. Auroville dome will be visible from the Tindivanam-Puducherry highway.
Two more Paadal petra sthalams – Kiliyanur and Irumbai Maakalam are located at a distance of about 8 kms from this place. Thiruvakkarai another shrine is located at about 25 kms from here.