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A contest arose between Vayu the God of Wind and Adhisesha the divine serpent as to whose physical prowess was mightier.  Adishesha bound the Meru mount with his might.  Vayu blew ferociously to break it.  One piece fell here.  That is Pavala Malai.  It may be recalled that  Muruga chose Palani as His abode as He did not get the mango in a contest then due to the wise approach of Lord Vinayaka.  Yet He was blessed by Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi that every hill shall become His abode.  This temple in Pavala Malai was built by devotees belonging to the Kanavala Kula community. 

Kuttrala Kuravanji is a famous literature in Tamil, speaking the life of a wandering community called Kuravas.  It is set to such meters and language representing the tradition of this community who are not educated in reading and writing as we define education, but very devout in nature, true and honest in their characters.  They will not speak falsehood.  They know no sin in their life. They are proud of their soil and the Gods and Goddesses of the soil.  This is a folklore literature authored by poet Tirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar.  The songs circle around the Tirikooda hills and Gods.

There are two lines in this work – “Pachai Malai, Pavala Malai Engal Nadu, Parameswara Vazhum Malai Engal Naadu” meaning that “we belong to Pachaimalai and the Pavala Malai the abode of Lord Parameswara who also belongs to us”.  This is also the region ruled by Paari, a chieftain of charitable nature leaving his Rath-car to enable the jasmine creeper to spread and grow on it.  This is the reputation of the hill Pavala Malai.

Trisadhi means 300 names of Lord.  Lalitha Trisadhi, Shiva Trisadhi and Subramania Trisadhi come under this composition.  People worship Lord Muruga with these 300 Namas – names speaking of his glory in defeating the great demon Sura, his brothers and the army, His power of creation, sustaining and destruction as Lord Shiva Himself.

Lord Muruga has six faces representing his power over the enemies, wedding with Valli and Devanai, teaching His own Father Lord Shiva explaining the meaning of the Ohm Mantra, His vow to protect the Devas, His scholarship in Sastras and all mercy to His devotees.  From His six faces came the Mahamantra Sa Ra Va Na Bha Va – known as Sadakshara – six letters.  This Trisadhi comprises of 50 Namas for each face.  In chanting these Trisadhi Namas, the devotee is relieved of the obstacles in marriage efforts, blessed with child boon, success in politics, conquering the enemies etc.

The colour of coral – Pavalam in Tamil - is red.  Mars is the authority for this colour.  Lord Muruga is the deity for Mars.  Some people may be facing adverse effects of the planet in life.  By performing this Trisadhi archana for Lord Muruga in Pavala Malai, this Mars adversity could be balanced. People participate in this worship on Tuesdays – day belonging to Mars – with a porridge prepared with a pulse (Paruppu Payasam) and Vada as nivedhana for relief.  It is also noteworthy that Lord Muthukumaraswami, the presiding deity is a Brahmmachari – celibate.  Therefore, we have the darshan of Valli and Deivanai as they were before their marriage with Lord Muruga.  Milk abishek is dedicated to Lord Kailasa Nathar and Mother Perianayaki on Tuesday mornings in their shrines.  The idol of Kailasanathar was found from the farmlands near this temple by the farmers.  Devotees had installed this Linga – Swayambu Linga - in this temple.  It is the experience of the devotees that all diseases go off to one who surrenders to Lord Kailasanathar.

It is noteworthy that the devotee can have the darshan of Valli and Deivanai as they were before their wedding with Lord Muruga.  There are also shrines in the temple for Lord Kailasanathar and Mother Peria Nayaki.