According to Ayyavazhi legends, Ayya Vaikundar, an incarnation of god, as per the instruction in Vinchai by Narayana unified six female deities into himself in various forms such as Siva, Brahma, etc.
Before, during the Vinchai, Vaikundar had promised to Narayana that he would go to Ambalappathi after completing the incarnational activities in Swamithope.
At that time, Ayya in the form of a mendicant, sit beneath a Pipal tree, pretend to be a newcomer and use to collect information about this temple with Latchumanan Potthi.
Hearing this Ayya pointed the Perambu (cane) to a spot there and asked Potthi to dig.
Then for some days Ayya stayed there and performed several miracles beneath a Pipal tree there.
Later, on this very spot the followers of Ayya constructed a Pathi and conducted daily Panividai.
Every year, Kodiyettru Thirunal including Car festivals are conducted in this Pathi.
It also lies halfway between the towns of Rajakkamangalam and Kanyakumari on the Western Coastal Road.
Ambala Pathi is located at 8°03′N 77°16′E / 8.05°N 77.27°E / 8.05; 77.27 Since Ayya Vaikundar unified all the different divine powers into himself and revealed his supremacy here in Ambala Pathi, this is one of the most important Pilgrim centers for Ayyavazhi people, next to Swamithoppe.
Akilam the primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, gives though not a greater, but an equal status for Ambalappathi with Swamithope pathi.
This inner corridor is called Tatuva Kottagai and it earn its name from its unique architecture planning.
It was a tiled roof structure and is designed that 96 wooden beams starting from the end of the corridor and converge into a single wooden pot mounted at the center of the roof, which symbolises the 96 Tatvas of the human body.
The Thear mandapam, which houses the temple car is located 100 feet east to the prayer hall.
Near this well there is a separate monument constructed similar to Hindu architecture near the pipal tree, which is believed to be the place where Ayya use to rest as per a legendary.
The Thiru Edu Vasippu, the festival during which Akilam is read melodiously, also takes place.