The place and the temple are closely linked with the history of Saint Tirunavukkarasar.  Though born to Saivite  parents and brought up by his Shiva devotee sister Thilagavathy, Marul Neekiar – that was his baptism name – embraced Jainism and rose to Guruhood there with the name Dharumasenar.  His sister, a staunch Shiva devotee, dedicated herself to the service of Lord Shiva by maintaining the temple, prayed to the Lord seeking her brother’s home coming to Saivism.

Lord Shiva caused a severe stomach pain to Appar.  None in the Jain camp could cure him.  He came to sister Thilagavathy, fell at her feet for relief.  The affectionate sister took the brother to Veerattaneswarar shrine, chanted the Panchakshara-five letters-Na Ma Shi Vaa Ya – and put the sacred ash on his forehead.  Appar also consumed the ash and was miraculously cured instantly of his deadly stomach pain.  Out came spontaneously Appar’s first hymn called Kodhil Neediya Tirupathigam beginning with the line “Kootru Aayinavaru Vilakka hileer”.  Pleased with his poetic skill, Lord Shiva honoured Appar with the title Tiru Navukku Arasar-Tirunavukkarasar meaning king of tongues.

Devotees seeking the grace of Lord Veerattaneswarar are relieved from the three basic evils glued with humans – viz. Aanavam-arrogance, Kanma, that which follows birth after birth and illusion.  Devotee visiting this temple reaps the benefit of seeing the Lord in His abode Kailash.  Saint Arunagiriar had praised Lord Muruga of the temple in his Tirupugazh hymns.

Lord Shiva of this temple is also praised as Sri Samharamurthi (Tirukedilavanar).  It is also believed that Lord Ammai Appar is praying Himself in the sanctum sanctorum.  Mother is also praised as Sri Tirupurasundari.  Lord Vinayaka is worshipped as Siddhi Vinayaka.

Other Sacred springs of the temple are Shoola theertham, the well in the temple, Chakkara Theertham, a tank and River Kedila.

The immense benefit the devotee derives here is total peace of mind.  Every disease will be cured by prayer, stomach related pains and ulcers in particular by applying the sacred ash and consuming it, freedom from enemies, disappearance of any curse following the family generation after generation, releasing the ancestors too from their sins ensuring total salvation are the benefits awaiting the devotee in this temple.  Those seeking child boon consume the milk used in the abishek of Lord.

People also pray for job opportunities, family prosperity also.

Indira the king of Devas, Lords Brahmma and Vishnu, Pandavas the five brothers, Saptha Rishis (seven sages), Vayu the God of Wind, Varuna the God of Rain, Yama the God of Death came to this temple in their chariots to worship Lord Veerattaneswarar.  Hence, the temple is designed as Rath.  Thanjavur Peria Koil (Big Temple) Vimana was designed after this temple by Rajaraja in the temple he built at Thanjavur.  The temple is designed with such mathematical accuracy by the Pallavas that the shade of the temple does not fall on the ground.  This is the place from where Lord Shiva destroyed the three lokas-Tripuras - simply by His boisterous laughter, without the aide of any weapon or army.

The temple has many firsts.  It is here that the Lord destroyed the three great evils – arrogance, fate and illusion.  Thevaram hymns were uttered first here.  All Shivagama puja codes were formulated from this temple.  Car festival and design of cars were drafted from this place.  This is the only temple that is adored in great number of Thevaram hyms, the divine Tamil hymns of three saints-Gananasambandar, Appar and Sundarar- came to delight the devotees and taken as scriptures by later scholars from this place.  The sculpture depicting the wedding of Shiva-Parvathi is behind the presiding deity.  The sanctum sanctorum and the Mandap are in Rath (Ther in Tamil) shape.

10 day festival for Appar-Tirunavukkarasar is very devotionally celebrated in April-May.  10 day Vaikasi (May-June) Visakam Brahmmotsavam includes car festival and Tripura Samhara.  Saint Tirunavukkarasar made his Uzhavaram, an instrument with a sharp edge fixed with a stick for removing the bushes on the way to Shiva temples in this sacred land.  It is also noteworthy that the Thevaram hymns of the three saints contain more mention about Tripura Samhara episode.  Lord of the temple purifies all His devotees from the three great basic evils polluting the human mind.  This is also the land where Lord granted darshan to Appar in Wedding form, hence weddings are conducted in the temple.

Mother Periyanayaki shrine is in right of that of Lord.  Those facing delays in wedding pray here for early good results.  The devotee should bow down while wearing the vibhuti-sacred ash.

Three wicked demons, Tharukakshan, Kamalakshan and Vidyunmali performed severe penance on Lord Brahmma and obtained powerful boons that would keep them ever alive without death.  With this boon, they began to harass the Devas and others.  All of them appealed to Lord Shiva for protection.  Lord Shiva made earth His Rath, Sun and Moon the wheels, Brahmma the charioteer and the Devas His army.  He made a bow of the Meru Mount, Vasuki the serpent the chord, Vishnu the bow with Agni (fire) the sharp point and mounted on the Rahth.  Suddenly, the axis of the Rath broke.  Immediately, prayers were offered to Lord Vinayaka for the remedy.  Lord began the March.

Devas accompanying the Lord thought that Lord would win the war with their help only.  Realizing their pride, Shiva used no weapons on the enemies.  He simply laughed at them.  A fire ball came out of His laughter and reduced the demons to ashes. Realizing their folly, Devas bowed down their heads in shame.  The arrogance of both the demons and the Devas were destroyed simultaneously by the Lord.

Lord pardoned two demons and made them His security guards-dwarapalakas.  One became player of his Kudamuzha instrument.  This is the story celebrated as Tiripura Samharam.