He saw devotees of Shiva called atiyar ("servants") seated in the Devasrayam, the thousand-pillared mandapa (hall) in the temple and prostrated to them and stayed in their company.

Once, Sundarar, one of the most celebrated Nayanar saints, came to the shrine and went straight to the garbhagriha, without bowing to the atiyar.

Viralminda was angry with Sundarar as he used Thyagaraja to pacify the warth of his wife Paravai.

He was enraged with the god when he heard Thyagaraja gave Sundarar a divine vision.

The devotee refused to do so, but requested the wife to keep the axe on Viralminda's left hand, instead of the usual right.

When Viralminda heard the devotee belonged to Thiruvarur, he reached for his axe, but did not find it in its usual place.

Thyagaraja revealed his divine form as Shiva and blessed Viralminda for his devotion.

[7] Sundarar venerates Viralminda (called Viranmintan of Kunrai) as a Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai.

[6] The Mucukundasahasranaman, a "liturgy" dedicated to Thyagaraja, which mainly speaks about his love for Sundarar, also recalls the devotion of Viralminda Nayanar.

Viralminda Nayanar is worshipped on Thiruvathira, the Purnima (full moon day) of the Tamil month of Chithirai.

Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.