This holy temple has no Rajagopuram.  In the front appears Vinayagar.  With five kalasams, the front door alone faces east.  On entering we can see the Nandhi turning faces us eastward.  If we enter the inner temple door, we can see and enjoy the Hunter story imaged in mortar.  In the outer prakaaram are the sanctum of Saptakannikas, Sundaramurthi Vinayagar sanctum and that of Lord Arumuga.

Worshipping Lord Vilvavaneswarar, our sorrows will vanish.  Those who long for marriage and offspring can worship this Lord.  The Lord will grant peace and serenity to those who pray to Him.  The Lord also readily grants the prayers of his devotees who pray for good job opportunities, business enhancement and promotion in job

The command of Ambal:   Valaikkainaayaki  (Sarvajana Rakshaki) of this temple is a powerful deity.  It is significant to perform pooja in the Tuesdays and Fridays between 6.00 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.  At that time, we should stand near the Sri Chakram opposite to Devi, voice out our troubles and worship.  We can feel that Devi talks with us.  While we are praying to Ambal, the priest would perform the ‘deepaaradhnai’ (showing camphor-light) to the Lord, come to the sanctum of Ambal, inform us about our prayer and also the duration of time for that to get fulfilled.  The devotees endorse this that things have happened as told by the priest.

Vedas in the form of Vilvam:  Legends state that the Vedas conduct their tapasya in the form of Vilvam.  It is believed that the Vedas realized that everything would be annihilated during deluge.  So they approached Lord Siva and asked Him the way to get protected from extinction.  The Lord advised them to do tapasya standing as the bael tree.  They did so and hence this holy place came to be known as ‘Vilva Aaranyam’ and the Lord was called ‘Vilvavaneswarar’. Here reside Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu and so the place is celebrated as the holy place of the Trinity.  Just as the bridal couple sit in a straight line during wedding, the sanctum of the Lord and Ambal appear in straight line.  The belief is that the ailments get dissolved either by taking bath in the theertham or by sprinkling that water on the body.  All doshas or curses will disappear.  In other places it is said that the Sapta Maathas had offered prayer; but here the Sapta Kannigaas (the Seven Virgin goddesses) are said to have worshipped. We can see the six-faced Shanmugar with the peacock and the sacred arc (thiruvacci) carved in single stone.  We can see clearly in the image the nails and the lines of the palm.  Another significant aspect is that the peacock stands turned towards left.

This temple has been consecrated by Saint Arunagirinaathar and also by the three nayanmar, and was erected by King Kulothunga Cholan.  At Tiruvaikkavur, the Divine Couple Siva and Parvathi joyfully stayed.  It remains as a holy place where fear of death is annulled.  The tradition is that only in this place ‘Sivarathiri’ was initiated.

When the sage Thavanidhi was doing tapasya, a hunter came chasing a deer. Since the sage gave protection to the deer, the angered hunter began attacking the sage. Lord Siva at once took the tiger’s form and began driving the hunter.  The frightened hunter ran and climbed on the nearby bael tree.  The tiger also stood under the tree.  The hunter had no other way and so stayed in the tree throughout the night. The hunter thought that he would fall down from the tree if he slept and so he plucked the leaves and dropped them down one after the other.  The leaves fell on Lord Siva in the tiger’s guise.  That was a Maha Sivarathiri day.  The hunter received unawares the grace of the Lord, worshipping Him without any knowledge, fasting and sleepless. The Lord appeared before him and sanctioned moksa (liberation) to him. As he had to die the next day early morning Yama, the Lord of Death came there.  Nandhi Deva discarded him and Lord Siva as Dakshinamurti drove Yama away with a staff in His hand.  He was also angry with Nandhi Deva for having permitted Yama in. Because of his fear to the Lord, Nandhi Deva stopped Yama controlling him with his breath.  Yama was then relieved after he surrendered to Lord Siva.  The legend says that he created a pond before the temple, worshipped the Lord and left the place.