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Sage Durvasa was engaged in his Shiva Puja when a Gandharva (a community in the celestial world) mocked at his old age appearance.  The sage did not mind it.  Yet, the Gandharva continued the mischief and even called him by clapping hand moved before him as a cancer-Nandu.  Angry sage cursed him born a Nandu.  Realizing his folly, he sought the pardon of the sage.  He was advised to perform Shiva Puja to gain his original form.  He came to this place as a Nandu, bathed in the pushkarini, picked up flowers and worshipped the Lord.

Meantime, Indira the king of Devas also came to this place to perform Shiva Puja as advised by his Guru to acquire a power to conquer the demons.  He used to bathe in the pushkarini and did Shiva Puja with 1008 flowers.  Every day he found one flower falling short.  He saw the Nandu doing puja with one flower.  He thought that he was the only one worthy of doing Shiva puja and a Nandu was notqualified for the puja and tried to kill it with his sword.  Lord made a hole in His Lina body to help the creature to escape Indira’s attack.  Yet, the Linga was injured by the sword cut.  Lord appeared before Indira and said that one cannot succeed by arrogance but by humility alone.  As Lord granted salvation to Karkadaga-Nandu, He is praised as Karkadakeswarar.

Generally, we find only one Ambica shrine in Shiva temples.  There are two Ambica shrines side by side.  During the construction of the temple, Ambica in the place was lost.  Hence, a new Ambica idol was made and installed and named Arumarundhu Nayaki meaning that She came as a medico.  Within a few days, the original Ambica idol also was found and installed with the name Apoorva Nayaki.  She is the main Ambica of the temple.

This is the temple to seek relief from the Karkadaka-Cancer in English and Nandu in Tamil-zodiac sign comprising of three stars-Punarvasu, Poosa and Ayilya.  The hole on the body of the Linga created by the Nandu and the scar caused by Indira is still visible.  There is a shrine for Moon-Chandra at the entrance of the temple.  Those having problems due to Moon aspects pray in this shrine.