The very mention of the name of the place Courtrallam brings to every one’s mind nature’s beauty in bounty, the silver cascades (Falls) and the delightful drizzles. This sylvan resort has another aspect of importance i.e., religious and historical importance. This Shrine at Courtrallam has the reputation of having been worshipped by the greatest of Tamil poets - Agasthiar. The pioneers of the Bhakti renaissance movement of Tamilnadu - the Nayanmars - have sung in Praise of the deity and the place. This is one of the five sacred Sabhas of Lord Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer. It has been named “Chitra Sabha” . Dharani Peetam, the sacrified Gnana Peetam of Sri Athi Sakthi is also enshrined in this temple, This temple simultaneously is well known for its historical and religious and puranic significance.

     The temple lore [puranic story] linked with the transformation of a vaishnava temple to a Siva Temple is that, when the divine marriage between Lord Siva and Parvathi was about to take place in the Himalayas, every one from the three worlds - the celestial, the earth and the underworld - gathered there; consequently, the northern part of the Indian sub continent started sinking. Immediately Agasthiar was sent to the South to reset the balance. Agasthiar came to this Podhigai Hills. When he wanted to worship the deity at the Courtallanathar Temple, he was stopped by the Duvara Balakas since he was a Saivaite with sacred ash etc. Agasthiar, very much depressed, had his darshan at Sri Kumaran Temple at Ilanji where he was advised by Lord Muruga to enter Courtallanathar in the appearance of a Vaishnava devotee and transform the presiding deity as Siva and worship Him as per agamas. Agasthiar did the same. The devotees and priests took him for a saint. He went in with all things needed for Pooja. Lord Vishnu appeared before him in the Cosmic form. On Agasthiar’s repeated plea, the form got smaller in size; Agasthiar placed his hands on Vishnu’s head and transformed him to Lord Siva. These are the details that one can get from the puranas regarding the temple becoming Saivites’ place of worship.