When Sage Valmiki came there to worship Lord Shiva, Kamadhenu ran in fear pressing its feet on the head of the Shivalinga, the scar of which is still visible on the presiding deity.The road starting from Marundeeswarar temple, now called ECR was an important route during the Chola period and was known as Vadagaperuvazhi, connecting the kingdom to places in Thanjavur and Andhra Pradesh. Kamadenu poured the milk on the Lord and got back its original supremacy.Hence, the Lord has the name Paalvanna Nather. The angry sage cursed it to become an ordinary cow losing its divine status.He also suggested the cow to go to this place and worship Lord Shiva under the Vanni tree to recover its divinity.
Once, the cow delayed to pour the milk for pooja. The temple occupies an area of about 1 acre - numerous images adorn the pillars of the temple, while stucco figures adorn the gopurams. The Samadhi of Sri Pamban Swamigal is about 0.5 Km from this temple.Recognizing the penance of Sage Vasishta on Lord Shiva, Indira sent his Kamadenu the divine cow with the sage. The temple is facing west with Dwajasthambam, Palipeedam and Nandhi. The Entrance from the West Tank Street has got three gates whereas the entrance from the East Coast Road has only one gate. The temple has two entrances, one from East Coast Road and the other from West Tank Street both adorned by 5-tiered gopuram (gateway tower).