During the Pandava's expulsion in forest, Arjuna traveled to ascetic for Lord Shiva to seek Pashupatastra. One day during the journey, he slept on a rock to take rest. As he woke up and continue his journey , a bird flew around him and chripped. Feeling boggle at the chirp of the bird, he meditated. He woke up in the existence of the bird and followed its path. The bird flies every day and one day, it reached a valley. The bird finally sat on a tree as high as the sky near to a clean stream and this drew Arjuna's attention towards it. Arjuna reached the place where the bird chirped. It was a big tree called Kilimaram the bird was sitting and chirping. The bird gazed at the face of Arjuna sitting on the branch of the tree. Arjuna had a feeling that bird said, this is the place where you can have your ascension. Bird suddenly plucked 3 leaves from the nearby Koovalam tree and put it there. Parthan felt like he was asked to do ascension for Lord Shiva. Arjuna commenced his ascension as said by the bird. Thus the place came to know as Kilimarathil Kavu and later to Kilimarathukavu.Arjuna took bath in pond nearby and worshiped the Shiva Lingam stone found there. As time went on, Arjuna's ascension became severe. As requested by Lord Parvati, Lord Shiva came to Arjuna as a wild man and Parvathi as a wild woman. This time a monster sent by Duryodhana came to kill Arjuna. Monster in the figure of pig was attacked with arrow by Arjuna and Lord Shiva in wild man outlook. Arjuna and Lord Shiva started argument on hitting the pig. Arjuna beat the wild man with Gandeevaam (bow of Arjuna). Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva stopped it and explained who actually the wild man is. Hearing this Arjuna did sashtanka namaskar and Lord Shiva gifted him Pashupatastra and gave blessings. All goddess including Ganapathy, Murugan, Sastha, Anjaneyan requested to meet the look of wild man who is Lord Shiva. Finally everyone came to see the wild man and Lord Shiva told Aujuna, the place where we are now is very sacred and whoever came here for prayer should be blessed. Lord Shiva disappeared after saying this and a Shivalingam appeared itself on the same place. Even today two Shivalingam are worshiped.