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In the 11th Century, king Ukkirapandian ruled over Ukkirankottai. 

He used to go over to Madurai for darshan of Lord Somasundarar. One day, when he was proceeding to Madurai for worship, at a particular location, the Royal Elephant  hit the earth with its tusk.

 At that time, Manikireevan, the watchman of Punnai forest, came there and told the king , “Oh king! Here is an anti-hill in the midst of Punnai forest. When the anti-hill was demolished, there appeared a tail-less cobra.” 

On hearing this, the king rushed to the Punnai forest and saw a Siva lingam by the side of the ant-hill to his overwhelming happiness. Then he had a bath in the Nagasunai (holy tank) and worshipped the Lord. 

Later on, the king destroyed the forest in the vicinity of the ant-hill and constructed this temple with mandapams, a gopuram (tower), and compound walls. 

In the 12th century, king Seevalaramapandian constructed the Rajagopuram and front Mandapam. This temple has three important sannadhis within its premises, that of Lord Sankaralingam, Lord Sankaranarayanar and Goddess Gomathi.

Sri Chakra is installed in the Mandap before Ambica.  This is called Agna Chakra.

There is a shrine for Lord Sarpa Vinayaka – Vinayaka with a Serpent in hand.

During March and September, the rays of the sun fall on Lord Sankaralingam for three days from the 21st of the respective months.

Sankarankoil is considered as a Pancha Bootha Stathalam of “Prithvi – Land”. The other four – Kari Valam Vanda Nallur (Agni  - Fire),  Then Malai (Vayu – Air), Devadanam (Aakayam  - Sky) and Tharukapuram (Aap – Water) – are within in a distance of 20 km from each other. 

The temple Address : Sri Sanakaranarayanar Temple, Sankarankoil-627 756, Tamil Nadu. .

Sankarankoil is 120 km from Madurai and 56 km from Tirunelveli. Sankarankoil can be reached by road or rail.

The temple main tower is 125 feet in height. This gopuram contains nine storeys. The top storey is 56 feet in length, 15 feet in width. The kumba kalasam on the top is 7 feet  4  inches in height.

The Serpent King Naga was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva.  Paduman, also a serpent, was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu.  Both were frequently debating about the supremacy of their respective Lords.  

They went to Mother Parvathi for a verdict. The Goddess performed penance praying to both Lords to grant a joint darshan to establish the truth that both were equal.  

Responding to Mother’s penance, both granted darshan jointly as Sankara Narayana.  Lord Shiva also granted a darshan to Mother Parvathi as Sankaralingam.  

In the days that followed, this Linga was covered by an anthill.  The two serpents also lived in the same anthill.  A devotee, while demolishing the anthill, cut the tail of one serpent which began to bleed.  The incident was immediately communicated to the Pandya king.  He immediately built this temple. The Puthu Mann or ant hill sand is offered as Prasad for the devotees.

Lord Sankaranarayana shrine is in between the shrines of Lord Sankaralingam and Mother Gomathi.  The right side of the deity belonging to Lord Shiva has Agni the fire, Ganga, crescent moon and the turf, ear ring, Rudraksha on the chest, Mazhu the weapon of Lord Shiva and tiger skin clothing in waist.  Sangan is holding the umbrella in the Tiruvasi – the frame around the Lord.  

On the left, belonging to Lord Vishnu, appears His gem-studded crown, a hanging ear ring-Kundalam-tulsi bead and Lakshmi mala in the chest, a conch and the silk-peethambara around the waist.  Paduma is holding the umbrella in this side.

 is offered as Prasad during morning pujas.  Vibuti, the sacred ash, is offered during other pujas.  Garlands of Tulsi and flowers are offered during the pujas.  Vilwa for Lord Shiva and Tulsi for  Lord Vishnu are used in pujas.  

Gomathi -  Go means cow and Mathi means moon in Sanskrit. Maidens from the celestial world came along with Ambica in the form of cows to help Her penance.  With a face as radiant as the Moon and being the owner of cows, Ambica is called Gomathi.  She is also praised as Aavudayambikai being the Tamil version of Gomathi. 

As a tradition in Lord Shiva temples,  Lord Lingodhbavar or Lord Vishnu grace on the goshta wall around the sanctum.  In this temple, this position is occupied by Lord Yoga Narasimhar.

There is a shrine for Lord Vanmeeka Nathar in the prakara of Lord Sankaralingam.  Lord Shiva in this shrine appears in an ant-hill form, His true form.  It is designed as if He is sitting on a serpent with its head above Him as an umbrella.  Vanmeekam means ant-hill.  As Lord Shiva is in the Vanmeekam, He is praised as Vanmeekanathar. 

Lord Sankaranaraya always appears in His best Alankara-dressing.  Abishek in the shrine is offered to Lord Chandramouleeswarar, the Spatika Linga-crystal Linga.