Virgins (Penn in Tamil), Divine cow (Aa) Kamadenu and Elephant (Gadam) worshipped Lord here, hence the name Penn- aa- Gadam – Pannagadam which in later changed as Pennadam.

People pray to Lord of the temple seeking cure from hand ailments.

The world was once destroyed by Lord Shiva.  Barring this place, all parts of the world was submerged in water.  Devas rushed to this place and begged the Lord to protect all beings by keeping them here.  Lord directed Nandhi to prevent the flood entering here.  Nandhi, till then facing Lord Shiva, turned towards the place and diverted the flood and saved the place.  Hence, Lord of the place is praised as Pralaya Kaleswarar – Lord who protected the world.  He destroyed and also protected.

Shiva devotee Kalikamba Nayanar used to do Pada Puja – washing the feet of Shiva devotees – with his wife, which she once refused for a devotee.  In fury, Kalikambar chopped off the hands of his wife for refusing a divine duty, but Lord restored her hands.

Saint Tirunavukkarasar’s Bhakti was one such which could not explained by mere words.  He knew nothing but Lord and services to Him.  He was ripe in age with all his physical strength failing.  He sought a boon from Lord to place on him the stamp of His Trishul and Nandhi if he deserved it, which Lord Shiva granted with His own hands. A Chola King has to worship the Lord from other side of the bank of the river due to heavy floods.  Lord acknowledged his worship by raising the ground level.  There is a temple within the temple, 30 meters above the ground level remembering the event.

The reputation of the temple is beyond human imagination.  Indira, the king of Devas needed flowers form Earth to perform Shiva Puja in his place.  He sent two maidens to earth to bring flowers, who found them in plenty but stayed here itself seeing a Shivaling in the garden and began doing pujas.  As they did not return, he sent the Divine cow Kamadenu to bring them back.  Kamadenu found the maidens and only joined them in the Shiva puja by pouring its milk on the Lord.  As it did not return, he sent his white elephant Iravadham in search of the,  The elephant, seeing them in worship also joined the camp by standing in such a way creating a cool shadow so that Sun did not hurt the Shivalinga.  Finally, Indira himself came down, saw the maids, cow and the elephant and also joined them in the worship.  All returned together with the blessings of Lord Shiva.