The idol of the Muruga in Poombarai, was created and consecrated by sage Bogar, one of the eighteen great siddhas out of an amalgam of nine poisons or navapashanam.

The legend also holds that the sculptor had to work very rapidly to complete its features, but that he spent so much time in creating the face, he did not have time to bestow but a rough grace upon the rest of the body, thus explaining the contrast between the artistic perfection of the face and the slightly less accomplished work upon the body.

One night, Perumal a king of the Chera Dynasty, who controlled the area between the second and fifth centuries A.D., wandered from his hunting party and was forced to take refuge at the foot of the hill.

It is placed upon a pedestal of stone, with an archway framing it and represents the god Kuzhanthai Velappar in the form he assumed at Poombarai - that of a very young recluse, shorn of his locks and all his finery.

The temple also houses many sub-shrines of various deities such as Shiva Linga, Ganesha, Navagraha, Bhairava, Idumban, Dakshinamurti and Nagas.

One of the main traditions of the temple, is the tonsuring of devotees, who vow to discard their hair in imitation of the Lord of Poombarai.

Another is the anointing of the head of the presiding deity's idol with sandalwood paste, at night, prior to the temple being closed for the day.

The paste, upon being allowed to stay overnight, is said to acquire medicinal properties, and is much sought after and distributed to devotees, as rakkāla chandaṇam.

While visiting this temple this god (Murugan) has saved Arunagiri nathar from a devil by acted as a Baby(Kulanthai), the people are trusting.