Gayasuran was a demon whose assumed a figure like that of a elephamt. He did a tapas by standing at the top of Meru mountain by thinking Brahma. Immediately Brahma appeared before him. Gayasuran asked for a boon by which he should immortality and success in all endevour he undertakes. Brahma granted the boons. But he put a condition saying that he should not oppose Lord Shiva and if he opposes he will die. Immediately he started showing his true colours. He started giving troubles and tortured all except Lord Shiva. Lord Indra also was defeated by him. Immediately he caught hold the tail of the divine vehicle of Indra by name Iravatham threw it far away. He destroyed the capital city of Indra called Amaravathi. He tortured his own clan members, demons and all the people all  over the world. All the affected people surrendered before Lord Shiva. They went to Kasi in search of Lord Shiva. There Lord Shiva was sitting ina temple with his consort Parvathi Devi. Al of them appealed to Lord Shiva that HE should protect them and that Gayasuran who got the boon of immortality is on his way to that temple.Please protect us by destroying him. Gayasuran who was following them forgot for a moment the boon that he should not oppose Lord Shiva.  By standing outside the temple he roared in a high pitch voice. On hearing this roaring every one embraced Lord Shiva. By consoling them  HE assumed a big form the sight of which frightened one and all.  Big fire rays came out of his eyes the sight of which frightened every one.

He gave a severe blow by his leg  and he fell on the world. He stood on his head with his another foot and standing on his thigh he tore his body with his nails and tore his skin . At that time even Parvathi Devi got frightened. Those who saw HIS figure and form lost their eye sight.

He put the skin of Gayasuran in his body as an uppergarment  and calmed down.Every one returned to their abode. Having won him in a battle Lord Shiva is called  GAJAYUKTHA MOORTHI. To worship him one should go to Tiruvazhuvoor. Here Lorshiva himself destroyed the elephant produced by Tharugavana sages from a yafna fire. By his anima sakthi he went inside that elephant and toring away its skin he came out of it. So let us call him GAJA SAMHARA MOORTHI. By doing abhishegam and archana to gaja samhara moorthi one will be get rid of evil effects of Saturn. One can escape the ill effects of seven and half years Saturn effect.  By sseing his viswaroopa darshan on twelve new moon days(amavasya in tamil) one will be blessed progeny. By performing archana with arugam pul(cynodan dactylon in English) and neivethyam of paayaasam(gheer0 on Mondays troubles from enemies  wii be won over. By performing Lemon juice abhishegam to gaja samhara moorthi there will not be fear of death.