As in Madurai Meenakshi temple, the wall of the Shiva shrine has eight elephants bearing the Vimana –tower above the shrine.  Lord Brahmma is under one elephant and Lord Lakshminarayan under another elephant sculpture.  Lord Shiva consumed the deadly poison that came out while churning the milk ocean at the pradosha time – i.e. between 4.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.  Following this, special pujas are performed to the lord at this time, when those affected by poison related problems pray here.  Almost this prayer is followed on other days too at this time.

Mother Loka Nayaki graces from a separate shrine.  But for the timely intervention of Mother to prevent the Alahala poison devoured by Lord Shiva, the whole would have been destroyed by its deadly effect.  Mother saved the Lord from letting it beyond the throat and thereby the world, hence became the saviour of the world as Loka Nayaki.  The idol is made with the frame together (Tiruvatchi) depicting the Mother with lotus flowers in Her hands.  The temple is in Somaskanda form – with Lord Muruga with 12 hands accompanied by His consorts Valli and Deivanai with Lord Shiva and Mother Ambica on both sides.  All the three shrines are in a row.

Lord Ranganatha is in a separate temple on the left side.  The sacred spring for both temples is common behind the temples.  The priests of both temples take the water from here for pujas during the Margazhi (December-January) morning pujas.

On the 10^th day of Navarathri, Lord Ranganatha with His consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi visits this temple to invite Lord Shiva for the arrow festival.  It is an exhilarating experience for the devotees to have the darshan of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu going together in a procession.

Lord Vinayaka is praised as Shenbaga Vinayaka.  Lord Padala Vinayaka is in the prakara wall of Lord Shiva shrine.  Worship of other deities is followed only after worshipping Padala Vinayaka according to tradition.  Lord Dakshinamurthy appears without disciples.  Abishek is performed here at Guru Hora on Thursdays between 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 a.m.  Mother Shiva Durga and Pradoshamurthy are also in the prakara wall.  There is a sculpture showing planets Rahu and Ketu.  Those afflicted by the adverse aspects of these planets worship here and the Linga nearby.  There is no shrine for Navagraas the nine planets.  There are shrines for Kalabhairava and Sun.

During the churning of the milk ocean to take nectar, a deadly poison, Alahala came first.  To escape its effect, the Devas appealed to Lord Shiva who dared to devour it to protect the Devas.  Mother Ambica held the neck of Lord Shiva tightly so that the potion could not go further down the body of Lord Shiva.  The temple was raised here on this story.  As the Lord consumed the Nanju (poison) He is called Nanjundeswarar.  As the poison made a Blue (Neelam in Tamil) scar on the throat (Kanda), He is also called Tiruneelakandan.