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The presiding deity in the main temple is Ramanathaswami, facing east, and it is considered to be as holy as the one in Rameswaram. Many devotees who are unable to visit Rameswaram, make their offerings to the Lord here.

The Goddess here, as in Rameswaram, is known as Parvathavardhini and Her shrine faces south. Medha Dakshinamoorthy is enshrined on the southern side and His idol is one of enchanting beauty. On the southwest side is the shrine of Vinayaka while Subramaniar, with His two Consorts, Valli and Devasena, is worshipped in the shrine on the other side.

There are also shrines for Gajalakshmi, Hanumantha Lingam, Annamalaiyar, Brahma, Durgadevi and Chadikeswarar. There is a separate shrine for Navagrahas with the Sun at the centre with his two Consorts, Ushadevi and Prathyushadevi, which is said to be a rarity. The other eight grahas are found around Sun.

According to legend when King Dasaratha ruled the entire world, Saturn was to pass through Rohini star after staying in Krithigai, on one occasion. Sage Vasishta and others told Dasaratha that if Saturn did so it would spell doom for the world. There would be famine everywhere for 12 years and animals and human beings would be put to much hardship. He requested Dasaratha to prevent it. Dasaratha immediately got into his fast-moving chariot, carrying all Divine weapons and reached the star, Rohini. 

He saw Saturn moving in his golden chariot towards Rohini and sent the Divine weapons including the “Samhara Asthram” towards him.

Saturn, laughing at the king’s futile attempts, told him that He could destroy anybody by His mere look. The powers that Dasaratha had got through severe penance, austerity and Divine grace prevented Saturn from eliminating him. Dasaratha requested Saturn not to pass through Rohini and thus spare the world from experiencing famine for 12 years.

Saturn was immensely pleased with the king’s concern for the welfare of his subjects and granted the two requests. He also told him that if he visited Thirunaraiyur  (Nachiyar Kovil) and bathed in the tank there he would appear before him. Dasaratha did accordingly and Saturn appeared before him. 

As Thirunaraiyur is the place where He appeared before Dasaratha, it is considered to be an important place of Saturn worship. It is said that in no other place, including the more famous Thirunallar temple, is He worshipped along with his two wives, Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi (also known as Neeladevi) and his two sons, Maandhi and Kuligan.

According to the sthalapuranam, Lord Rama and Anjaneya, during their return from Lanka to Ayodhya, visited this place.