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Nilathingalthunda Perumal shrine  in the temple is a Divya Desam (S.No. 49).

Legend has it that once Parvati was doing tapas under the temple's ancient Mango Tree. In order to test Her devotion Lord Shiva sent fire on Her. Goddess Parvati  prayed to Her brother, Lord Vishnu, for help. 

In order to save Her,  Lord Vishnu took the Moon from Lord Shiva's head and showed the rays which then cooled down the tree as well as Parvati.

After that, Lord Shiva again sent the river Ganga to disrupt Parvati's tapas. Parvati devi prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of them were sisters and so should not harm Her. 

So, Ganga did not disturb Her penance after that. Then Parvati made a Shiva Linga out of sand and got united with Lord Shiva.

According to another legend, it is believed that Parvati worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a Prithivi Lingam (or a Lingam improvised out of sand), under a mango tree. Legend has it that the neighboring Vegavati river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Shiva Lingam and that Parvati or Kamakshi embraced the Lingam. 

Shiva touched by the gesture materialized in person and married Her. In this context He is referred to as Tazhuva kuzhainthaar ("He who melted in Her embrace") in Tamil.