In [[Satya Yuga]] which is also known as Krita yuga, the two sons of Romasanma risi such as Ketharar and Peralar came to south India on pilgrimage. On their way near Patalivanam, Peralar halted there itself. Ketharar started to do penance along with the risis who were doing penance in Kuruvinthavan. On a particular day he found a lingam found under the Kuruvintha tree. As he first saw the lingam, the deity was known as Kethareesvarar and the place as Ketharam. That place was also called as Ketharam. In [[Kali Yuga]], a [[Pandya]] king known as Kesarithuvajan, on the curse of Mandaliya rishi became an elephant and started roaming all the places nearby. In order to get the curse cured he started worshipping all the temples. At that time, he came to Kuruvinthavanam. On seeing the deity at that place he started to worship the deity in order to get rid of the curse. His prayers were answered by Shiva in that place. Later [[Vyaghrapada]], also known as tiger legged [[Rishi]] also worshipped the deity. So this place was known as Atthippuliyur. 'Atthi' refers to the elephant while the 'puli' refers to the tiger. This place is also known as Dakshina Ketharam, the south [[Kedarnath Temple|Ketharam]].