The spiritual significance of the place is noteworthy.  Sri Subramania Sastrigal, illustrious father of His Holiness Kanchi Maha Periaval served in this place as a teacher.  This is also the birth place of Saint of Himalayas Babaji, whose father served in the Muthkumaraswami temple as a priest.

Devotees pray for freedom from fear of death, longevity and health performing Mrutyunjaya Homa.  For wisdom and salvation people pray to Chitragupta.

This is the temple where Chitragupta worshipped Lord Shiva and got appointed as the clerk of Yama the God of Death.  It was his destiny to die at the age of 12.  The mental agony of his father Vasudutta was uncontrollable.  Chitragupta consoled him and began worshipping Lord Shiva.  When Yama came to catch him, Lord Shiva sent Mother Parvathi and prevented Yama approaching Chitragupta.  Mother ordered Yama to leave Chitragupta as he was a devotee of Lord Shiva.  Yama obeyed Mother’s order and accepted Chitragupta as his assistant.  Chitragupta is always 12.  There is a shrine for him in the temple.

It is customary in Shiva temple to close the doors after the Arthajama Puja to Lord Bhairava.  Here the same puja is performed both to Bhairava and chitragupta.  Special pujas and abishek are performed to him on Chitra Poornima day.  Devotees offer curd rice to him as nivedhana seeking longevity boon.  Mrutyunja homas are conducted in the temple for freedom from fear of death and longevity.  The 80^th birth day of people is celebrated here.  Chitragupta is the deity of Kethu planet responsible for salvation.

On Masi Magam day in February-March, Lord Shiva goes on Theerthavari to Bay of Bengal to bless Varuna the God of sea and rain with salvation.  The Arati is shown to sky. This event takes place on Aipasi Kadai Muzhukku day also in October-November.  The temple is situated in the northeast direction of Chidambaram Nataraja temple.  As the Goddess is all merciful like nectar, She is named Amirthavalli.  Sri Chakra is installed in the shrine of Ambica.  The rays of Sun fall on Lord and Mother for seven days in the month of Chithirai – April-May.  First Pujas are performed to Sun during these seven days.

As this is the place worshipped by Varuna the Lord of Rains, people pray here for adequate rains and also for safety from the damages that may cause due to excessive rains.

Durga shrine generally close to walls of main shrines, has moving facilities on all four sides so that the devotee can go round the shrine – for Pradikshina.  There are shrines of Rameswaram Ramanathaswami, Kasi Viswanatha, Neelakandar, Neelayadakshi, Shakti Vinayaka, Subramania, Kadamba,Padala Linga, Gajalakshmi, Kalabhairava, and Sun.  Sri Saneeswara (Saturn) is at the entrance of the temple as in Tirunallar.  Those facing adverse aspects of the planet worship here lighting oil lamps.  There is huge vessel in the temple called Chunnambu Kalanjiyam used to mix lime for whitewashing the temple.

As Rishi Markandeya was blessed by Lord Shiva with a perennial 16 years age to conquer death, Chitragupta secured a similar boon from Lord Aadhimooleswara in this temple with 12 years age and be appointed as an assistant to Yama Himself.  Varuna once rained affecting a Yagna dedicated to Lord Shiva and lost his power by a curse.  He regained the power from the Lord after intense worship.  At the request of Varuna, Lord agreed to stay in the place in the name of Lord Aadhimooleswara.