Besides Lord Sundareswara and Mother Brihannayaki gracing the devotees, the temple has shrines for Lords Kumara Vinayaka, Padmasana Kola Dakshinamurthy, Nataraja accompanied by Mother Sivakamasundari, Lingodhbawa and Sani Bhagwan.  Lord Muruga appears in His penance posture.  Arrogant Surapanma lies at the feet of Lord Muruga as His Padaraksha (sandals), looking at Lord’s face.

Lord Muruga in the temple is facing north.  Devotees are advised to worship Lord Muruga facing south for relief from black magic impacts, evils following from previous births and for total disappearance of enemies.  Happiness and prosperity will theirs, it is firmly believed.

During the renovation of the temple, a finger in the idol of Mother Brihannayaki was damaged.  While a new idol was getting ready, it is said and believed, that Mother appeared in the dream of many simultaneously and said “will you abandon a mother if she is disabled due to age and ailments?  Will you seek a new Mother? Let me be as I am.  Let me have my own Sannidhi.”  Accordingly two Sannidhis had been built for Mother.

 Demon King Surapanma was all arrogant and ruled from Singa Theevu (Island of Lions) and caused many a hardship to Devas of the celestial world.  Intensifying his attack, he began a sacrificial puja inviting mother of fevers with evil abichara mantra chanting and applied her on the Devas.  Lord Muruga came to Tirumayiladi, sat on penance, made Seethala Devi appear and made Jura Devatha – goddess of fevers- run back in panic.  Devas were protected.  As prayed by the Devas, Lord Muruga consented to stay in Tirumayiladi in His penance posture. Arrogance personified Surapanma became polite as the peacock vahan-vehicle of Lord Muruga.

 It should be understood that arrogance can only be controlled from to time but could not totally be eliminated from one’s mind and it should kept under check not to raise its head.  The festival deity of Lord Muruga in Tirumayiladi is a reminder of this truth.  Surapanma peacock is in surrender posture at Lord’s feet holding His padukas-chappals.

During a romantic conversation between Lord Shiva and Parvatvathi, Lord Shiva claimed that He was more handsome than Parvathi.  At one stage, Lord disappeared in anger.  Mother could not bear pain of absence of Lord and in Her effort to bring Him back, She took the form of a beautiful peacock and began dancing in this Kannuvachipuram region.  She won.  Lord appeared as a handsome Sundra Mahalingm.  Enticed by His handsomeness, Mother Uma continued Her dance in all perfectness.  As Mother took the form of peacock (Mayil), the place came to be known as Mayiladi.  It also happens to be the place where Kanwa Maharshi performed penance, it is also known as Kannuvachipuram.