The  sculpture depicting the darshan of Lord to saint Sundarar is on the ghoshta wall near Lord Dakshinamurthy shrine.  There are shrines for Lord Bhairava, Surya Linga, Ramalinga, Bheema Linga, Sun God, Lord Adikesava Bhaktavatsala, Mother Gajalakshmi in the prakara.  Lord Nardana Vinayaka is in a separate shrine facing east.

This is a temple with Guru importance, hence special pujas are performed on Thursdays to Lords Shiva and Dakshinamurthy by devotees seeking excellence in education.

After worshipping Lord Shiva with his first song beginning with the word “Pitha” at Tiruvennainallur, saint Sundarar came to this temple but was intercepted by the spate of Thenpennai River.  He sang his hymns from the river bank.  There came an old couple and took the saint to the other bank of the river in a boat.   Lord Shiva hid Himself.  Sundarar saw around but could not find anybody.  The old man told Sundarar that the person he was seeking to see was up above and disappeared.  The Saint had the darshan of the Lord with Mother Parvathi on His Vrushab-bull vehicle.

Sundarar begged the Lord to impart him teachings on the rules of penance.  As Lord Shiva was a Guru-Teacher to the saint, He is praised as Sishta Gurunathar and Thava Neri Aaludayar – teaching penance rules.  As Thursday belongs to Jupiter-Guru planet, special pujas are performed in the temple.

During Pradosham days – 13^th day from new moon and full moon fortnights, a flag with Nandhi symbol is hoisted here.  In olden days, this practice was followed.  It is not in vogue now.  This practice is still followed in Shiva temples in Sri Lanka even now.

This practice is followed in this temple.  The Shiva Linga is big in size.  The point of the peeta-Avudayar is on the right side.  Poornima – full moon day – pujas are performed on Mondays. Those facing problems in wedding proposals and those concerned with the health and welfare of children light ghee lamps and perform archanas with Vilwa leaves.  Lord Muruga graces with six faces as Lord Subramanya praised by saint Arunagiriar n his hymns.  Lord Adikesava graces from a shrine facing south.  Saint Sundarar appears with his Sengole-a stick symbolizing royal authority.  People use to dress Sundarar with a turban as a mark of respect.

There are shrines opposite the temple for Thaduthu Aatkonda Easwarar granting darshan to the saint as a ripe old person and for Mother Gajalakshmi and Ashtapuja Kali.  The monument of saint Arunandhi Sivachariar, disciple of Meikanda Nayanar belonging to the Saivite Guru Parambara is nearby.

When the wedding of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi took place at Mont Kailash, Lord Shiva sent sage Agasthya to south to balance the level of the earth.  On his way the sage installed Shiva Lingas with Ambica to see the wedding.  In this place, the sage worshipped the Lord facing west and Ambica facing North-Vamadeva direction.  He did so because the wedding took place at North.  Such north-facing Ambica form is very rare.