The legend says that Yamadharma Raja was cursed to be born as a human being and was thus born as Vidura. After seeing all the bloodshed during the war, Vidura became remorseful and asked Krishna for salvation. Krishna asked him to go for a theerthayatra (pilgrimage). After visiting many places, Vidura came to this place, which was actually a hermitage of Maithreya Maharishi. Once during sandhyavandhana in the river, Vidura got a small sapling when he was about to offer argya to Surya. Maithreya Maharishi asked Vidura to worship the sapling to get salvation. With great devotion, Vidura worshiped the sapling and Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, pleased with the devotion, gave him dharshan, and thus the name of the location became Vidura Ashwatha.