Sambandar has sung praises of the temple in his Thevaram. The temples is also associated with legends of the sage Arunagirinathar.This temple is also associated with Sri Ramayanam. When Lord Rama, Hanuman and his other ape companions were traveling south, they passed through this place at the banks of Kaveri River and served as a port. For a safe river crossing, Hanuman prayed to Lord Siva here and established the Dayanidhi Lingam. Thus the name of the village was derived as 'Vada Kurangu Kadu Thurai' meaning 'The port-forest of the northern monkey' in Tamil. This later came to be known as Vadakurangaduthurai. Pregnant women frequent the temple to pray for a safe delivery.