[2] As per legend, Pugazh Thunai was a poor farmer, but a staunch devotee of Shiva, used to bring pots of water for the ablution of the presiding deity of the temple.

Shiva was pleased by his devotion and started offering a coin (called padikasu in Tamil) daily on account of which both the saint and the region were relieved.

An inscription (ARE 283 of 1908) dated to the 22nd regnal year of Rajaraja I indicates a gift of land to the temple by Tirupattur Mahadevar.

The record (ARE 289 of 1908) of building the shrine of Suryadevar and a gift of land was made during the fourth regnal year of Rajendra I.

[4] The Padikasu Nathar Temple is located in the village of Alagaputhur which is situated at a distance of 6 kilometres from Kumbakonam on the way to Tiruvarur in Thanjavur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

There are images of Surya and Chandra close to entrance tower indicating the legend that both of them worshiped Shiva at this place.

Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaivaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste.

The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 6:30 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Mahalingeswarar and Pirguchuntaragujambigai.

[3] The most prominent festival of the temple, Maasimagam, is celebrated for ten days during the Tamil month of Maasi (February - March).

The temple is revered in the verses of Tevaram, the 7th century saivite canonical work by the three saint poets namely, Appar, Sampantar and Sundarar.