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Devas appealed to Indira to protect them from the atrocities of demon Vruddhasura with the might of the boon he obtained from Lord Brahmma.

Indira fought the demon and killed him and incurred the evil effect of the killing. He also lost his kingship of the Devas. As advised by his Guru, Jupiter, he came down to earth to worship Lord Shiva for remedy.

He came to this jungle region-Aaranyam, found a Swayambulinga and performed pujas. Pleased with his devotion, Lord appeared before Indira and said that the effects of both good and bad deeds had to be experienced by all. Lord stayed here then as Aaranyeswarar.

Festival:

Shivarathri in February-March; Aipasi Skanda Sashti in October-November; Arudra Darshan in December-January and Vinayaka Chaturti in August-September are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Opening time:

The temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 6.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

The vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is called Dwaidala Vimana. Dasalinga is in the prakara. There are seven Lingas here with one having two Banas on the Avudayar.

This is a rare and different Linga not commonly seen in Shiva temples. Mentioning this form in his hymn, saint Gnanasambandar says Lord having Dasalinga with Him.

Lord Dakshinamurthy is seated on a square shaped peeta facing west with 6 disciples though in temples He appears with four disciples, Sanakar, Sanathanar, Sananthanar and Sanathkumarar. He is also praised as Rajayoga Dakshinamurthy.

As Lord Shiva was in the midst of a jungle Aaranyam He is also called Aranyeswarar and Kattazhagar in Tamil - Lord of the Jungle. Mother in a separate shrine is facing south. As all prominence is for Lord alone, there is no shrine for the Navagrahas the nine planets.

Those who had been demoted from positions and those deprived of promotions despite honest and hard work perform special pujas to Lords Dakshinamurthy and Aaranyeswarar offering vastras. They believe that they will recover their losses.

Lord Vinayaka, praised as Nandu Vinayaka was worshipped by a cancer-Nandu in Tamil to regain his original Gandharva personality. The Nandu is his peeta. He does not have His Mouse vehicle with him as the Nandu plays the role.

Lord Aranyeswarar also has His name after a sage of the name who worshipped here. The sculpture showing the sage worshipping Lord Shiva while Mahakalar is blowing the conch, is in the prakara.

Saints Sambandar and Tirunavukkarasar had sung the praise of the Lord of the temple in their Thevaram hymns. This is the 12th Lord Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauveri praised in Thevaram hymns.

Do's:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.