Sthala Purana - Tiruvetkalam is recognized as the primary site of penance of Arjuna. Krishna instructed Arjuna to engage in tapasya in order to acquire the divine weapon known as the 'Pashupatastra' to secure victory in the Kurukshetra war. Departing from his brothers, Arjuna journeyed to Tiruvetkalam, a bamboo forest then, to perform his penance. Upon learning of Arjuna's undertaking, Duryodhana dispatched the asura Mukasura to eliminate him. Mukasura transformed into a wild boar to disrupt Arjuna's worship. In response to this threat, Shiva manifested as a hunter. Arjuna released an arrow that struck the boar, simultaneously, Shiva, in his hunter guise, also shot an arrow. A dispute ensued regarding whose arrow had killed the boar, escalating into a fierce exchange of arrows until Arjuna's bow was shattered. Infuriated, Arjuna retaliated by striking the hunter's head with the broken bow, a blow that resonated across all three realms. Parvathy, incensed by Arjuna's actions, was calmed by Shiva, who responded by kicking Arjuna. By this act of Shiva, Arjuna received the 'pada-diksha' and 'sparsha-diksha', signifying initiation through the touch and feet of the deity. With Parvathy's grace, he fell down in the sacred waters at that location and surfaced unharmed. Shiva and Parvathy then appeared before Arjuna, granting him the 'Pashupatastra'. The Linga of the presiding deity still bears the mark of the blow. The temple features 'Urchava' idols depicting Shiva as a hunter, holding the 'Pashupatastra', alongside Parvathy and Arjuna. A festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of 'Vaikasi Visakam' to commemorate the event of Arjuna receiving the Pashupatastra from Shiva.
The temple is characterized by a three-tiered Rajagopuram oriented to the east, which provides access to a prakaram that contains the sannidhis dedicated to Sidhdhi Vinayaka and Somaskanda. The Mandap, situated in front of the south-facing sannidhi of the female deity, is supported by four intricately carved pillars depicting various scenes: Arjuna in a relaxed posture with his weapons lowered, Arjuna in a state of penance while standing on one leg, Shiva depicted as a hunter, and a confrontation between Shiva and Arjuna. Additionally, the pathway within the prakaram draws attention to the figures of Narthana Vinayaka, Anugraha Dakshinamurthy, and Murga, who is portrayed seated on a peacock. Another significant aspect of this temple is the juxtaposition of Surya and Chandra, whose worship during solar or lunar eclipses is thought to mitigate planetary 'doshas.' The main deity resides in an east-facing sanctum, accompanied by Uchchi Vinayaka, Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, and Brahma, collectively referred to as 'Goshta Murthas.' Furthermore, there exists a sannidhi dedicated to Chandeshwarar.
Saint poet Arunagirinathar has extolled Lord Muruga in Tiruvetkalam through his collection of tirupugazh. Within this collection, two specific songs are devoted to Tiruvetkalam. In this representation, Muruga is depicted facing east, possessing twelve compassionate hands, and seated upon a peacock, accompanied by His consorts. This entire imagery is carved from a single stone, and the festival of Vaikasi Vishakam is celebrated with great grandeur at this temple.
'Krupa theertham' is the associated sacred water body and the 'Sthala Vruksham' is bamboo.
Tirugyanasambandhar would stay at Tiruvetkalam and would makes visits to Chidambaram to venerate Nataraja. The pathikam composed by Tirunavukkarasar is in 5th Tirumurai.
3 Tiered Gopuram
kodimaram, Balipeetam
Dakshinamurthy
Lingothbhavar
Muruga with his consorts