The temple is situated left of Palani hills.

Those who visit Palani should submit their prayers first to Sri Idumba to reap the benefits of their prayers to Lord Mruga in Palani hills.

Those chanting Sashti Kavacham, a hymn devoted to Lord Muruga will find a line praising Idumba also which is an evidence to show that the deity was instrumental for the coming up of the main Palani temple.  Many devotees visiting Palani were not aware of this truth.  By the grace of Lord Muruga this temple for Idumba was built and consecration performed in the year 2002 in the hill opposite of main Palani Murugan temple.  The idol is 13 feet tall showing Idumban carrying the Kavadi.  There are also shrines for Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga.  To reap the full benefit of their prayers to Lord Muruga in the main temple, devotees should bear in mind they should pray in this temple first.  There are 540 steps to reach the shrine.  Visitors to Palani are advised not to fail in Idumba worship before proceeding to Lord Muruga.

Idumban-Idumbasura was the Guru to demons Surapanma, Banukopa and Singamukhasura in the exercise of war craft.  After they were killed by Lord Muruga, Idumba began performing Shiva puja.  His wife Idumbi was very helpful to him.  The place where Idumban and Idumbi stayed is known as Idumbavanam, now 16 km from Tiruthuraipoondi.

Sage Agasthya begged Lord Muruga to allot him the places Shivamalai and Shivathi considered the combined grace of Shiva-Shakti which Lord obliged the sage.  He took them to Kedara and was performing his pujas.  It so happened that Sage Agasthya had to leave the hills there due to a compulsion to proceed to Pothigai hills.  Idumba, during his journey through the jungles met the sage and expressed his desire to be blessed by Lord Muruga.  Appreciating his intention though being a Guru to demons, Sage Agasthya advised him to chant loudly the six letter Muruga mantra Sa Ra Va Na Ba Va with the refrain Arokara and bring the two hills to Pothigai to realize his wish. 

Idumba and his wife Idumbi began penance on Lord Shiva to bless them with the strength and energy to carry the hills as advised by sage Agasthya.  A Brahmma Danada-strong stick appeared before them.  Also the serpents from all the eight directions arrived there.  Idumba used the serpents as ropes and made a scale base on both ends of the stick.  He placed the two hills in each of the base – now called Kavadi and proceeded to Pothigai.  When he reached Tiru Avinan Kudi – scriptural name of Palani, he was tired and placed the Kavadi on the ground for a while.  He also saw a small boy on the top of hill playing and called him to come down.  The boy refused and said that he had come there to stay.  A debate arose between Idumba and the boy.  The boy hit Idumba mildly with His stick, Idumba fell dead.  Idumbi, immediately understood that her husband, the Guru of the demons could be killed only by Lord Muruga and cried helplessly begging the Lord.  The little pretty boy Muruga appeared on His peacock vahan and restored Idumba to life again.  Lord said “you will be in between these two hills.  Devotees should bring the puja materials to me on a Kavadi as you did with the hills.  They have to offer their first prayers to you before coming to my temple here.  Those who worship you will derive the benefit of worshipping me”.