 Shiva is worshiped as Thayumanavar, and is represented by the "lingam" and his consort Parvati is depicted as Mattuvar Kuzhalammai.The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the "Tevaram", written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as "Paadal Petra Sthalam".According to Hindu legend, a pregnant woman named Rathnavathi was an ardent devotee of Shiva and he arrived in the form of her mother to attend to her delivery.