It is one of the 108 Siva temples in Kerala consecrated by Lord Parasurama. Identified as one of the Shakti Peethas, the temple has certain unique rituals. Women are permitted to enter the sanctum only after the Athazha Pooja or ‘offering of dinner’ made to the deity. They are asked to refrain from entering the premises during daytime owing to a belief that after the auspicious dinner, Siva is in a delightful mood as he sits beside his consort Parvathi, making it the right time for women to enter the shrine to offer prayers and seek the blessings of the divine couple.
Distinct from other Siva temples, here Bilva leaves are not accepted, instead, Holy Basil leaves are allowed as customs pertaining to Lord Vishnu are also observed here. Unlike most temples, the shrine does not have a Kodimaram (flag post), the deity is never taken beyond the temple premises and there are no annual temple festival celebrations. The namaskara mandapam is where Lord Rama is thought to have offered his prostrations to the deity on his way back to Ayodhya from Lanka, so the platform is off limits to devotees for prostrations.
