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Long ago this place was a Bael wood. A hunter came here to hunt and shot an arrow ata deer. The deer escaped and disappeared in the hollow of a tree trunk. The hunter tried to catch it and he found an image of Aiyanaar in the bush. The amazed hunter said: "O Lord Sevugap Perumal! I went in search of the deer; but, now I’m blessed to serve Thee from this day!" He worshipped the deity hailing Him as ‘Perumal’. From that day onwards, this Deity is known as ‘Sevugap Perumal Aiyannar’ and remains as a Protecting God.

  Lord Aiyanaar, another aspect of the gods Saastha or Ayyappan appears as a Protecting god in many sacred places and blesses the devotees. Sevugap Perumal Aiyanaar of this holy place is a powerful deity. The poojas are performed here with Bael leaves (Vilvam) related to Lord Siva. He has also acquired the name of Perumal. Since He is born of the union of Siva and Vishnu He is given a special significance.

Word and Meaning : Saastha was nurtured by Lord Indra, the King of Devas. Due to certain circumstances he could not rear him. He left the child with the Hunter clan in the earth and asked them to bring up the child. They regarded Him to be Aiyanaar and prayed Him to protect them from the wild animals. In course of time, cities began rising and forests gradually shrank. So they requested Him to be the Protecting God at the city bounds. Thus, the worship of Aiyanaar, the component of Saastha, commenced. Just as Aiyanaar, Lord Ayyappan also alleviates the evil influences of the planets like Raagu and Maanthi. The name ‘Ayyappan’ is the collaboration of the first syllable ‘Ai’ with ‘Appan’, which indicates the meaning ‘Father’. ‘Ayyappan’ and ‘Aiyanaar’ signify the same deity. While ‘an’ and ‘aar’ are linked in ‘Aiyanaar’, ‘appan’ is bound in ‘Ayyappan’. The word combinations are different; however, the meaning of the words and their significance are one and the same. Ayyappan of the Cera country too is seated on an elevated place amidst the forests. The worships of Sabarimala Ayyappan and Tamilnadu Aiyanaar are also identical. Both the worships have well-progressed according to the respective environment and have become popular.

Malayalam and Taminadu : The Prime Deities of the Trinity are Hari and Haran. Hariharan is the Son born to them. Hence, here in Sivaganga District, in the Aiyanaar temples Sivarathiri celebrations are conducted with much fanfare. Ayyappan Legend at Kerala is narrated according to that country’s culture with Ayyappan seen as the Prince of Pandala Kingdom. He reveals Himself as an exuberant Leader having performed unachievable feats.

There is not much of a difference between the images of Sabarimala Ayyappan and Aiyanaar. Like Ayyappan, Aiyanaar is also seen seated in Power Posture, having in his hands the ‘chenda weapon’. The hands do not indicate the ‘refugee-sanctioning’ mode (abaya varadam). On His head is the crown and He wears a ‘Yoga-band’.

Sacred Tree: Since this holy place exists in the Bael woods, the Sacred Tree is obviously the Bael Tree. All the deities including the Retinue Angels (Parivaara Devathaikal) are worshipped with Bael leaves only.

Holy Water: The Holy Water – Pushkarani – of this temple are the waters of River Virisilai and the perennial fountain water of the well in the inner paved corridor of the temple.