People pray to Ambicas for good farm yields and a life free of diseases.

Lands are divided into five categories.  Dry part is called Paalai in Tamil.  This part of Tamilnadu was then known as Paaliah Nadu dense with Kara plants and bushes.  As the place was full of these Kara bushes, it was named Karaikudi.  Later, efforts were taken to make them fit for farming and those who led this project were called Vallambars and Nattars who were army men and skilled in archery.  They had Mother Perianayaki as their Kula Devatha.  Mother Vayanachi meaning Mother of Strength graces from the sanctum sanctorum.  She grants success to Her devotees.

There is also a deity in the temple praised as Pidari meaning who drives away peetas the evil effects.  In the Panchayat courts, witnesses would be required to swear on Pidari.  No one had the courage to speak falsehood in the meeting.  If one so dares to speak lies, he/she would not be alive at the night, was the fear among the people then.

Centuries ago, people of Paliah Naadu had the habit of hunting in memory of the noted chieftain Vallal Pari.  They chased a rabbit.  It hid itself in the tree hole.  When they hit the hole they heard the sound of a metal.  They found an Ambica idol with a trident.  The man who took the idol retained the trident with him and gave the idol to villagers.  They built a temple in their native Pallathur and installed the deity facing east.  Next morning, the deity was found facing Velangudi in south. Villagers found that the man who took the idol from the tree hole had the trident hidden with him.  They took the idol to Velangudi, built the temple and installed Mother in the temple.  Mother Vayanachi Amman graces from the main temple and Mother Perianayaki graces from a shrine outside.