Though this is a Shiva Temple, all importance is for Mother Mutharamman as to Mother Meenakshi in Madurai.

Those affected with small-pox, handicapped, mentally retarded pray in the temple for relief and it is the experience of the devotees that Mother Mutharamman responds to their prayers without delay.  People who lost their properties earlier, meeting loss in business say they had recovered their assets after praying to Mother.  They firmly believe that Mutharamman is the guardian of their welfare.

According to astrology, if two planets mutually occupy the houses belonging to each other, it is called Parivardhana yoga.  For example, Shukra may be in the house belonging to Mars and Mars in turn may be in the house of Shukra-Venus.  Similarly, Mother had exchanged Her Power with Lord and Lord in turn had offered His powers to Mother in this temple.  The Mantra used in the Shakti puja, Yantra the copper plate installed under the Mother idol according to religious rules and traditions and the Thantra the puja codes are followed in this temple as in Mother Meenakshi temple in Madurai.

Small pox appears on the body of the affected as pearls which people use to call Muthu in the body.  As a remedy, people use to store water around the Goddess to bring the heat of the boils-Muthu down and dry them.  Mother thus cures the patient.  Hence the name of the Mother in the temple, Muthu-(pearl) Attru (treating) Amman-Goddess – Muthattruamman – Mutharamman.

In this seashore temple, Lord and Mother are on the same peeta facing north.  People pray here for relief from small pox.  They also pray for child boon.  Those suffering from leprosy pray here for 41 days with fasting, get cured.  So those mentally retarded seek asylum at the feet of Mother Mutharamman.

Generally, only Swayambu idols are chosen for worship in temples.  Mother appeared in the dream of a worker and asked him to make an idol of Her and send it through an archaka-priest coming from Kulasai.  She also informed priest in his dream of her instructions to the sculptor and advised the archaka to install it near the swayambu.  Thus goes the story that Ambica Herself chose her idol form.