Sthala Puranam

The Goddess is a Yogini who was performing her penance on the tip of the needle to please lord Shiva and merge with him. There were two snake kings namely "Sangan" and "Padman". Sangan was worshipping lord Shiva and Padman was worshipping lord Narayana. One day they had a quarrel on who is great whether lord Shiva, the destroyer of the ego or Narayana, the protector of mankind. They were trying to prove their own power and finally went to the Yogini and pleaded with her to give them a proper judgment.

The Yogini  out of her grace pleaded with the almighty to show his universal form so that not only the snake kings but also for all of mankind. By her intense penance lord Shiva appeared before the Yogini in the form of half Shiva and half Vishnu declaring to the world that they are equal and it is with love and sacrifice that one can reach them. Hence Sangan and Padman worshipped the lord and prayed to the Yogini for showing them a way to attain  God and they stayed with her. The Yogini was none other than Goddess Gomathi.  Gomathi means repository of wealth. Since the snakes stayed with the Goddess, this place is free from all venomous creatures and praying to this Goddess can eliminate the fear of venom.

One of the 18 Siddha’s, the great Pambatti Siddhar worshipped this goddesses as Valai kumari and he regarded this Goddesses to be the great serpant power or Kundalini. This power can make miracles in taking an ardent yogic aspirant to transformation. Pambatti Siddhar samadhi is seen behind the temple.

 There is a circular hole in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Goddess with a design of Sri Chakra inside it. There is a popular belief that any one afflicted with mental disorder who worships the deity sitting on the hole will be cured of the disease.

"Aadi Thapasu" is one of the  most important festivals of Gomathi Amman celebrated in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-August)in a grand scale.

 The story on this: Sri Gomathi Ambal did Thapas at Punniya kshetra and Lord Shiva gave Her darshan as Sankaranarayanaswamy on the Uthirada day in the month of Adi (June–August) and thereby indicating that God Shiva and God Vishnu are same. Further to prove this theory, It is also said that Sankaranarayanasami gave darshan to the snake kings Sankan and Padman. It is in practice to make the psychiatric patients, or those suffering from mental and physical diseases and persons believed to have been haunted by evil spirits, to sit on Sri Chakra peetam, in front of Goddess Gomathi Amman continuously for 40 days so that they could be cured.

Maavilakku (offering made from freshly pounded rice) is an important offering to this Amman. Those who come visit this temple also offer miniatures of snake, scorpion and other reptiles to get rid of curses.

 There is a snake pit (Ant Hill and it is called Vanmeegam) inside the temple(on the praharam of Gomathi Amman's sanctum santorum) and it is believed that applying the holy sand/mud taken from the snake pit on one’s body can cure various diseases.

It is believed that all devotees who pray to the goddess Gomathi Amman have always found solace. This is a unique temple in that all the aspects of the hindu faith practice-namely Shaktism,Saivism and Vaishnavism find representation and worship on equal terms. In this 900 year old temple, The art and architecture is a noteworthy feature that has stood the test of time.

May the blessings of the Goddess Gomathi Amman and Shankara Nayanar fill the visitors with immeasurable bliss and health.