There are shrines for Navaneetha Gopalar, Sadasivamurthy, Chandikeswara, Saturn, Subramaniar, Bhairavar, Nagar, Chandra the Moon and Saptha Kannikas the seven maidens.  Though Lord Shiva is the presiding deity in the temple, more importance is attached to Lord Dakshinamurthy.  Lord Vinayaka graces in the name of Teppakulam Vinayakar.  Sweet Pudding – Sarkarai pongal is offered as nivedhana.

Removal of obstacles in marriage talks, child boon, education, job, progress in trade and Naga dosha relief are the prayer subjects of the devotees.

The one speciality in the temple, against traditions followed in other Shiva temples is that Lord Dakshinamurthy graces in between the presiding deity and the Nandhi at the entrance instead of in the southern corridor.  The 27 steps to enter the temple are considered as 27 stars.  Those having problems due to some planetary movements are advised to worship Lord Shiva ascending on the steps.  Since the Lord gave darshan under a Tamarind tree, the place is called Puliarai.  More importance is attached to Lord Dakshinamurthy than to Lord Shiva in the temple.  The devotee crowd would be huge on Thursdays as this a shrine for Jupiter worship.

As Mother was brought from Chidambaram, She is worshipped as Sivakami.  The place has also the reputation as Chinna Sringeri as a sub-mutt of Sri Sringri Sharada Peetam.

It was a time when the Jains had an upper hand in Tamilnadu.  Chidambaram temple was under their control.  Shiva devotees took the Nataraja idol from there and came to Thrikoodachala Hills dense with Tamarind trees and hid the idol in a tree hole.  The idol fell in the view of the owner of the trees.  He was worshipping Nataraja daily.  Many years later, Shiva devotees returned to this place and took the idol back to Chidambaram.  The tree owner was disappointed to the see the empty hole and prayed to Lord Shiva to grace the place with His presence.  Lord Shiva appeared there as a swayambu Linga.  The owner praised him as Sadasiva.  People built the temple here then.