[1] Legend has it that Vaaruni, the son of Varuna, the God of rain who was cursed by a Sage to have an elephant's body and a goat's head, regained his normal form after worshiping Shiva at this temple.

[citation needed] Another popular belief is that during the exile of Pandavas, Arjuna got the pasupatha missile from Lord Shiva.

This is one of the 14 Shiva temples praised in Thevaram hymns which are located in Paandiya Naadu (south eastern part of Tamil Nadu ).

[2] Devotees pray to Lord Adhi Ratneswarar for relief from the evil effects of past deeds.

Those consulting Nadi astrology in Tiruvannamalai and Vaitheeshwaran Koil come to this temple to perform the remedial pujas.