Shrine of Mother Parvathi is westward and that of Lord Ganapathi is eastward.  There are also shrines for Mother Bhagavati, Lords Guruvayurappan, Subramania and Navagraha are in the prakara.

Devotees pray for wedding, child and good education boons.

It is noteworthy that Sri Aiyappa Avatar took place on the Panguni Uthiram star day in March-April.  He is everywhere to bless His devotees unable to visit Sabari Mala in Kerala.  Three pujas are conducted in the temple each day.  Maha Ganapathi Homa is conducted in the temple each day with eight puja items.

Devas and demons churned the milk ocean to bring out Nectar-Amirtha that ensures immortality.  If the demons consume nectar, the world would be under their rule causing untold hardships to all in all the worlds.  Lord Vishnu took the alluring Mohini form.  Lord Shiva, for the welfare of the innocent people, merged with Vishnu’s Mohini form.  Combining the powers and grace of both, Dharma Sastha came into being as Aiyappa in human form.   This took place on a Saturday on Panguni Uthiram star day in March-April.

The child thus sent from the celestial world was found in a forest with a bell around its neck.  Hence, he was named Mani Kandan –Mani-bell, Kandam-neck, Manikandan by Pandala king Rajasekharan who brought up the child as his own.  Meantime, the queen too delivered a child and was named Rajarajan.  The king, though had his own heir to succeed him to the throne, desired to coronate Manikandan.  A wicked minister advised the queen to demand the crown for her own son.  She persuaded a palace doctor to tell the king that the headache of the queen could be cured if the milk of a tiger was brought from the forest, with the ulterior motive to send Manikandan to the forest where he could be killed by the tigers. .  When Manikandan entered the forest for the purpose, sages understood that He was Dharma Sastha, placed Aiyappan on an ornamental throne they made and performed pujas.  That is the place now celebrated as Ponnambala Medu where Aiyappa temple exists in Sabarimala. Manikandan returned to the kingdom with a herd of tigers.  All begged his pardon.

Lord Aiyappa made it clear to the king of Pandala that he was then 12 years old and was a divine child.   He also told him that He would throw an arrow from his bow and asked him to build the temple for him where it fell.  King of Pandala was happy to take the job and built the temple at Sabarimala.

It is worthy to recollect that Lord Aiyappa was in the service of Pandya king too in his army.  Remembering this, it was decided to build a temple in Madurai (then capital of the Pandyas) Vilacheri following Sabari Mala model.  Lord Aiyappa appears here with all the royal personality sitting in Veerasana form facing northwest where Sabari hill exists.