History :

The temple is located at Thiruthuraipoondi near Mannargudi in Nagapattinam District in Tamil Nadu. Worship is suggested for those born under Ashwini Nakshatra. The rishis in Tharukavanam were becoming very arrogant and so Shiva and Vishnu came as Mohini and Bhikshandar The rishis were humiliated as they created a huge elephant to attack Shiva who killed the elephant and got the title Gajasamhara murthy, this act dissolved the ego of the rishis and rishi patnis making them realise they are but small characters in the great cosmos in front of Shiva and Vishnu. The ambal Periya nayaki of this temple brought back to life the asura husband(Virupakshan) of Shiva devotee Jalika.Though Virupakshan was a bad demon the goodness in Jalika bore fruit and the goddess blessed her with mangalya bagyam.