Iruppu Arasiyamman Temple is located few Kms far away from Vridhachalam Sri Kolanjiyappar Temple. The temple is open from 6 am to 11 am and from 4 to 9 pm. The contact telephone number is 097510 93220. Temple trees are Neem and Peepal trees.
As per legend, once Ma Shakti Devi playfully closed both the eyes of Lord Shiva. Then immediately darkness occuiped everywhere. The celestial Devas requested Shiva to show the way. He then opened His third eye shining like millions of Sun and the darkness was removed. Parvathi realised Her folly and removed Her hands. However, as the eyes were closed, both the normal eyes were looking red hot like the third eye. Parvathi apologised for Her mistake. However, for the mistake committed by her, Parvathi came to earth and started searching for a suitable place for Her penance. After crossing Kanchipuram, she found a place where even the dried trees started blooming. She decided to do Her penance there. As it continued for hundreds of years, she was totally covered by ant hills. At that time, in a nearby place there were some shepherds who were grazing their cattle in this area. One of the shepherds, Arasan, found that one of his cows used to pour all its milk at an ant hill. When he informed it to the villagers, they carefully removed the ant hill and found the idol of Ma Shakti Devi with a trident. Another name for Trident is Pidari. Since, Arasan found her, she is called Pidari Arasiamman.
For all the surrounding villages, she has become the guardian deity. The villagers raised a small temple and worshipped Her. One day, a bangle seller was passing through this area and he heard a divinely voice seeking bangles. He realised that it must be the Amman. He offered her a set of bangles. He was advised to collect the payment for the bangles from one Ponnappa Padayachi in the village. The bangle seller collected the payment and came back to the temple to report. However, he did not get any response from inside the temple which was closed at that time.
The impatient merchant broke open the door and tried to enter the shrine. The Amman became so angry that he made him into a stone by touching him with Her trident. We can see this stone idol of this merchant in this temple. In remembrance to this incident, several bangle sellers from different parts of the state assemble here during Amman’s Thirukalyanam and present her with a large number of bangles. Ambal used to be decorated with bangles.
The shrines of Vinayakar and Murugan are present in the temple behind the main shrine. The most important festival is the wedding function of the Amman in the Tamil month of Chithirai. Large number of devotees from different areas used to assemble here for attending this festival.
Some devotees used to sing some wonderful songs in praise of Ma Iruppu Arasiamman, especially during the month of Aadi (July-August), and some of those songs are as follows: –
O Arasamma! Great wife of Lord Shiva, the Sun is about to rise in the skies; please arise to listen to the prayers of your devotees.
Awake! O Arasamma! Things like ghee sweets, fruits and tasty flavoured milk items are ready for your early morning consumption. Please get up from your bed in order to protect the Universe.
Ma Arasamma, Goddess of prosperity resides on your heart permanently; O the great divine beauty of you attracts the minds of millions and millions of your devotees, O giver of boons, O my Dear Mother! I offer my humble salutations to you on this early morning.
O Sri Arasamma Devi! A fine morning to you, whose eyes looks like that of a beautiful lotus flower, and the bright face of the sun; Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Indra pay their respects to you. The ocean of mercy! Dear to your divine vehicle Lord Simharaja!
O resident of Devi Loka! The great rishis are chanting your mantras and reciting your names, and offers beautiful lotus flowers and performs holy bath to you by taking the water from the holy Rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada and Godavari. Please get up soon, and accept their early morning prayers.
Celestial Devas from the heaven are wondering about your divine beauty, the Guru of Devas and Demons are praising you! O Ma Devi, Please, open your lotus like eyes and express your divine appearance in front of your devotees.
O Ma Arasamma! The morning scenery is very beautiful and your Holy Shakti Peeths are surrounded with full of trees and paddy fields. The morning breeze is blowing very nicely, which carries good fragrances, wishing a very good morning to you.
O Ma Arasamma! The temple bells are ringing pleasantly, and I am able to hear the pleasant verses from Devi Bhagavatham recited by the learned scholars. I convey my early morning wishes to you. With their melodious musical instruments Sages like Tumburu and Narada sings wonderful songs on you, and I can witness that even some celestial goddesses like Ramba and Urvasi are also dancing before your shrine, in order to make yourself to feel delightful.
O Ma Arasamma who dwells on the Holy Devi Loka, The bees jumps from flower to flower in order to gather tasty honey, and even they want to offer the honey for your holy bath, and also to get your Divine glimpse on this early morning.
O Goddess of Universe! The cowherds are churning curd and are singing precious songs and praising your glories; their wonderful voice attracts even the birds and animals, and they surround them in order to listen to the cheerful divine songs. May this morning be glorious to you!
Lord Sun and the Moon produce more radiance, due to your blessings. Oh Ma Arasamma! Please awake soon in order to do your early morning chores.
O Ma Arasamma. The ocean of mercy, O Goddess of beauty, O Goddess of the seas, mountains and the land, let this morning bring happiness to you.
O Ma Arasamma! Having taken their holy dip in the Holy Rivers, Gods like Brahma, Shiva and sages such as Sanandana and Bhagavathas like Prahalada and Dhruva are waiting inside your temple door in order to have your early morning darshan. My Dear Ma Arasamma, Very Good morning to you, and let this morning brings great cheerfulness to you!
Glory to you O Ma Arasamma! Whose abode is mentioned in the Holy books, whose importance cannot be fully explained even by Lord Simharaja, whose names gives great pleasantness to the devotees, who permanently resides in the souls of the Bhagavathas like Narada, Tumburu, Prahalada and Dhruva.
O Ma Arasamma! Even the great Lords like Vishnu, Brahma and Indra are desirous of serving you, and they bow their heads before you, Oh Sri Viswaroopa Devi, please get up soon in order to accept the prayers from the great gods.
O Ma Arasamma! The planets and the stars are waiting before you in order to offer you their service. Your devotees having been purified by touching your holy idol, and there is no doubt that all of your sincere devotees would attain Moksha in their next birth. Please show your divine vision to everyone, since it is the time for you to get up from your bed.
O Ma Arasamma! People are very much interested to rest at Your divine feet in order to attain salvation, and just by watching your charming face, they forget about their worries, and becomes more cheerful.
Morning wishes to you O Ma Arasamma! You are Ma Bhumi Devi, the earth goddess. You contain good qualities like compassion, Love and affection etc. Oh Lord of all Gods! Your near and dear devotees Devidasan and Adishankara are chanting your glories. Good morning to you.
O Ma Devi Arasamma, you look more beautiful since you hold the Holy Trident on your hands, You are like the Divine Parijata tree and like the Divine Cow Kamadhenu in granting the wishes of those who surrender at your lotus feet. A marvellous morning wishes to you my Sweet Devi!
Your Divine posture looks very attractive and beautiful and you appear more beautiful than that of the love goddess Ma Rati Devi. You contain very good qualities which we cannot found with anyone in this universe. I offer my wonderful morning wishes to you.
O Ma Devi Arasamma, You, have taken several avatars in order to destroy the evil elements from the world. I offer my very Good morning to you.
O Ma Devi Arasamma, I could hear the wonderful Vedic chants and I can also smell the delicious Prasad items which is under preparation at your temple. Please get up soon in order to taste those wonderful delicacies.
The sun has raised and the flowers have opened their petals; and I could hear the lovely noise of the birds, your devotees are waiting at the temple entrance, and sings song in your praise. Let this morning be glorious to you.
O my beautiful Arasamma! You are the base of the Vedas, you act as the breath of everyone, you are the true Brahman, and, only with your help we could be able to cross the ocean of life. Glory to you my Arasamma, please get up soon.
Oh, Ma Arasamma, the bright consort of Lord Shiva, you are very much capable of destroying the demons like Mahishasura, Sumban and Nisumban. You gave joy to everyone in the universe, and we praise you for ever in our lives. Even if you give me poison from your lotus hands, it would taste me like the divine nectar.
You have been seen decorated with various flowers, which adds much more beauty, and those flowers have attained great significance since you were worn those on your head. Even if you really fight with me, I would consider it as one of your playful activities.
You are shining with sparkling garlands and jewels. You contain dark hair and you contain a very bright face which can be compared to thousands and thousands of suns. Even without applying scent, your body gives a good smell, which attracts everybody. Even if you remove my eyes with your little hands, I would never hate you, since I would be able to see your divine beauty through my soul.
Your hair is wonderfully decorated with various garlands. I want to see you once again in your child form, and I want to witness your lovely sleep in a comfortable bed. Even if you hate me, I would consider it as the love shown by you.
I am finding very much happiness by singing your songs, Hey Ma Arasamma even if you make me to starve without food, I would imagine myself as if I ate food from your lovely hands.
I offer my humble salutations to my great Mother Arasamma who loves her devotees so much, who contains dark blue complexion, oh my Devi Rani, please protect me, and kindly relieve me from this difficult life, and help me to cross this ocean of life. Even if you make me to take birth as an ant, with my tiny mouth, I would carry some food particle, in order to give it to you in your temple.
I salute you, My Arasamma, who is the giver of happiness and the remover of sorrows. You have been praised in all the fourteen worlds, and appear more beautiful even than the celestial Goddesses. Even if I have been surrounded with thieves, I would never worry for that, since you are always there to protect me from these thieves.
Oh, my fish-eyed Ma Arasamma, Please, once again come to this earth to take care of the innocent people. Even if I have been asked to sleep in the bed of thorns, I would consider it as a bed of rose flowers, since due to your grace, even the thorns appear to me in the form of rose.
Oh Ma Arasamma, your thoughts are fully filled up in my heart, oh I am really scared that whether you have been suffering from any evil eye problems, since most of the people are jealous on seeing your divine beauty. Even if I suffer from any dangerous disease, my mouth would always keep chanting about you, till my death.
Oh Ma Arasamma, I do not have any desire, except to see your beauty again and again, and the music which comes from your flute increases my heart beats, and it makes me to listen to your flute music again and again. Even if I take the birth of a small insect, I want to dwell only on your idol.
Oh, my pretty holy mother Arasamma, you are very compassionate, and contain very good qualities, like showering your grace with everyone even with insects, animals and birds. Even if I lose my legs, with my hands I would crawl like a child, in order to visit you at your temple.
“OM MA IRUPPURAMMANE NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR