As Sun God himself is worshipping the Lord with his rays submitted at His feet, there is no special shrine for the Navagrahas- 9 planets.  It is also believed that a direct prayer to Lord Muktheeswara would relieve the devotee from the adverse effects of the planets.  There are Vinayaka shrines in Northeast and Northwest.   There are four varieties of Vilwa trees here called Nelli, Kiluvai, Mavilangai and Vilwa.  The Vilwa tree and the Vinayaka in the Northwest grace the devotee his needs who commences lighting a deepa before this Lord on any bright moon day and come round thrice and continue it for 48 days.

Lord Muktheeswara relieves His devotees from affliction of adverse effects caused by the nine planets.  Those who pray to the Lord and Goddess Maragathavalli attain salvation after life and peaceful life during lifetime.  The devotees are graced with good marital alliances, wise children etc.  Offering Vastras (clothes) to the Lord is considered as a means to accumulate the goodwill of the Almighty.  This is known as a great Punniyam during life time.   Those seeking higher education seek the blessings of the Lord here.  Those aspiring the benefits of performing Ashmedha Yaga bathe the (Abishek) the Lord with tender coconut, those aspiring for a berth in Mount Kailash, the Abode of Lord Shiva bathe him with pure rice and those seeking the benefits of performing a consecration of a temple do Panchamirtha Abishek.

Indira’s vehicle Iravadham the white elephant was relieved of its curse in this shrine.  Of the Panchabhutha shrines in Madurai (Panchabhudhas – Air, Fire, water, earth and space making this universe), Muktheeswarar temple represents Vayu-Air.  This is one of the temples worshipped by Sun.

It is noteworthy that the rays of Sun falls on the Presiding Deity Muktheeswarar during the days from 10/11 to 22/23 in the month of March and again between September 18 to 30 and these rays remain for about 20 minutes each day.

The Thiruvilayadals (miracle deeds) of Lord Shiva are very beautifully sculpted in the pillars of the temple, besides the scenes of penance of Rishis.   There is also an idol of Ekabadramurthy combining the forms of Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva with only two feet.

Indira’s vehicle, the while elephant Iravadham ignored a flower used in Shiva Pooja.  It was cursed by Rishi Durvasa.  It wanted among the wild elephants and finally was relieved of the curse.  It worshiped Lord Shiva for his grace. As Indira could not find the Iravadha elephant even after the term of the curse, he set out in search of the animal. Before returning to the upper world with his Master Indira, the elephant wanted to worship Lord Shiva. It created a place after its name, worshiped Muktheswara. Even today, according to the documents of the temple, the place is known as Iravadhanallur.