The Legend - Thiruvaikavur, is renowned for its vibrant Mahashivaratri celebrations that attract throngs of devotees each year. According to local legend, this ground bore witness to a divine manifestation, where God Shiva himself appeared before a humble hunter on the auspicious day of Mahashivaratri. The tale unfolds on the verdant banks of the River Kollidam, where the hunter, engrossed in his pursuit, spotted a deer taking refuge in the dense foliage. With unwavering determination, he gave chase, his heart set on capturing his prey. As fate would have it, the deer sought sanctuary in the presence of a sage, who was deeply immersed in the worship of a Shivalingam beneath the canopy of a majestic tree in the nearby forest. The hunter, driven by his unyielding resolve, confronted the sage, demanding the release of the deer, for he had glimpsed a fortune in its capture. The sage, steadfast in his compassion, implored the hunter to spare the creature's life. Undeterred, the hunter threatened to take the sage's life if he stood in the way of his quarry. In the face of this dire ultimatum, the sage remained resolute, prepared to defend the innocent deer with his very existence. It was in this pivotal moment that God Shiva, the eternal guardian of his devoted followers, manifested in the awe-inspiring form of a magnificent tiger. The divine feline, pursued the hunter, compelling him to seek refuge in the branches of a nearby tree. As the tiger stood sentinel at the base of the tree, the hunter found himself trapped, consumed by a potent blend of fear and hunger that rendered sleep an elusive companion. Through the long hours of the night, he remained perched on his precarious branch, passing the time by methodically plucking leaves from the tree and casting them to the ground below.

That night happenned to be Mahashivaratri, and the tree happened to be 'vilva' and the plucked leaves fell upon God Shiva, who was beneath the tree in the form of a tiger. Throughout the night, the hunter inadvertently had performed the ritual of offering the leaves of vilvam, which helped him to attain the ultimate boon of Shivapadam; the state of eternal bliss and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The next day happenned to be the end of the hunter's mortal life, and Yama, the god of death, arrived to claim his soul. However, Nandi, failed to notice Yama's entrance. In response, Shiva manifested as Dakshinamurthy, and intervened, driving Yama away. Displeased with Nandi's lapse in vigilance, Shiva reprimanded him, prompting Nandi to prevent Yama's escape by holding his breath. Realizing his folly, Yama sought forgiveness and Shiva implored Nandi to release him. This profound tale exemplifies the boundless compassion and grace of Lord Shiva, emphasizing the power of devotion and the potential for even the most unexpected acts to lead to spiritual enlightenment and liberation.

As an act of worship and obeisance, Yama is said to have dug a sacred pond near the temple site and used the waters from this pond to anoint the Shiva Linga. He then remained at that location for several days, worshipping the deity with great piety and single-minded focus. The pond that Yama dug and used for his ablutions came to be known as Yama Theertham, and it is situated directly across from the main entrance gate of the temple complex. Interestingly, the statue of Nandi, the bull vahana of Lord Shiva, located at this temple is not positioned facing the inner sanctum as is typical in most Shiva temples. Rather, the Nandi here faces the main gate that leads into the temple complex. According to local belief and legend, this unusual positioning of the Nandi statue is intentional - it is meant to prevent Yama from being able to enter.

The Sthala Purana, tells the mythological tale behind the unique Dwarapalakas, or gate guardians, of this ancient Shiva temple. According to the scripture, the deity Brahma, fearing his divine act of creation would be undone by an impending great flood, constructed a well at this holy site. After completing his veneration of the deity Shiva, Brahma then humbly took his place as one of the temple's Dwarapalakas. The other guardian, Mahavishnu, came to occupy this role as a result of a curse laid upon him by Salandhiran's wife after she learned that Mahavishnu had uttered a lie with the intention of vanquishing the demon Salandhiran. The Purana states that Mahavishnu, having atoned for his transgression, took up his post as the second Dwarapalaka, where he remains to this day, steadfastly performing penance at the temple entrance alongside Brahma.

There is another water body called 'Agni Theertham', said to have created by Agni, and it is believed that the sacred Vedhas themselves, as the sacred vilva trees, are penancing here .