The temple was originally located closer to the sea shore at the site of the present-day Fort St.

[1] When the British East India Company built the fort, the temple was relocated to the current site on 1 March 1640 CE[1] and the construction continued until 1678.

Tamil poet Subramaniya Bharathi was a regular visitor of the temple in the early 20th century.

[4] The Tamil devotional hymn Ullam Uruguthaiya written by Andavan Picchi in 1952 was conceived and composed at the temple premises.

Legend has it that the deity was worshiped by demi-gods and saints, including Vyasa, Agastya, Aangeerasa, Pulasthya, and Varuna.