Arasaleeswarar Temple

Arasaleeswarar Temple, or Arasili, is a Shiva temple in Olindiyampattu, a village in Villupuram district. Shiva is worshipped here as a lingam, with his consort Periyanayagi, and the temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. Its name comes from the arasu, or peepal, tree: legend says Shiva appeared in place of the tree for the sage Vamadeva. In another story, King Sathyavardhan shot at a deer that was eating flowers from his garden, missed and struck the tree, which bled; the scar on the lingam is believed to be the mark of that arrow.

The original temple is believed to be Chola work, with the present masonry built by chieftains in the 16th century, and its five inscriptions date from rulers such as Vikrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola. A three-tiered gopuram leads into the one-acre walled compound. The temple's bronze idols were stolen and later restored by the idol wing of the Tamil Nadu Police in 2009. Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi (May–June) is the main festival.