Mother Shenbagavalli Ambal is 7 feet tall gracing Her devotees.

For total cure of prolonged illness, for a wedlock of imagination, children, progress in business, high farm yields, people place their prayers at the feet of the Lord and Mother and it is firmly believed that prayers do not go in vain.

As in Madurai, the importance goes to Goddess Shenbagavalli in this temple.  There are two women securities (Dwarapalakis) in the shrine.  While the Alankara (dressing) is done in accordance with form (standing or sitting) of the deity in all temples, in this temple the Alankara is done in a sitting form to the Goddess, though the original form is of a standing one.  The place has the reputation that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here.   As two snake leaders Chadungan and Paduman worshipped Lord Shiva here with Poovana flowers, the Lord is named Poovananathar.

The story that Sage Agasthya came to South to balance the earth level when it sank at north during the wedding of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi is popular.  On his way to Pothigai hills, the sage destroyed two demons Vilvalan and Vadhabi and also relieved himself of the Brahmmahati dosha that afflicted him due to killing of the demons.  He also created the Agasthya spring as requested by the sages of Ponmalai hills.

One Vamanan belonging to Shivakuzhu was born as the king of Vembakkottai in the name of Shenbagan as ordered by Nandhi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva.  He built the temple as advised by the Lord.  As the temple is built by king Shenbagan, Mother is named Shenbagavalli.  Later, the temple was renovated by Ullamudayan belonging the 10^th century.