Centuries ago, a great sage immersed in penance was able to realize the vision of Lord Vishnu and requested him to grant a way out for the human soul from pain and sin. As if explaining to his divine vehicle Garuda, Maha Vishnu elucidated the methods and ways of redemption open before the human soul in its predicaments. To keenly participate in this dialogue of his master, Garuda flew and sat on a location which is now the bank of the Theertha pond of the Garudan Kavu temple. That place where Vishnu gave darshan to his devotee also became a holy spot. Centuries later, more at this divine location, as if explaining to his divine vehicle Garuda, His Highness the Raja of Vettathu Nadu constructed a temple and gave it as a danam. It is believed that later the penance undertaken by Sree Padmapadacharyar, a disciple of Jagad Guru Sri Sankaracharya in this temple, added much to the nobility and lore of this temple. The temples of Kerala reverberate with the exploits of the Great Mason Perunthachan. The Garudan Kavu also contributes to this lore. Once, Perunthachan came to the Vettath Nadu Palace to pay his homage to the King. He had brought with him a statue of Garuda throbbing with life and luster. The Raja wished that it had a life of its own! He could not help expressing his strange admiration and wish. The great shilpi replied that the statue indeed would comply, provided a pure wife was to touch it. The Raja did not enjoy the reply. Sternly, he pronounced death for Perunthachan if he were eventually proved wrong when tested with an experiment. Perunthachan was unfazed, and with a smile, he inquired what reward his statue could garner if indeed it became alive as he had predicted. The Raja fairly promised a temple for the statue in that case. Perunthachan went into a trance. His wife was brought to touch the statue. On her touch, it flew up, and the king men followed it with wonder. There was a Vishnu temple belonging to Karuthedam and Ampala Paveri, and Mullappalli Manas. A big pond full of white tortoises was near it. The Vishnu temple and the tortoises are related in Hindu beliefs traditionally. The statue eventually came and rested on the top of one tortoise in the pond. This is the place now called Theertha Kund. The tortoise began to crawl towards the Vishnu temple. The Raja invited the Tantries of Karuthedath Mana to deliberate further actions. That resulted in the formation of the current Garudan Kavu facing the west. The name of the place currently is Vellamassery, which literally represents a settlement group of white tortoises. The temple complex later grew substantially. Sankara Narayana and Shiva prathisthas, facing the east, were constructed. On the left of Lord Garuda, one can worship Veettekkaran and Kartha Veeryarjunan today. Vishnu and Sankara Narayanan have Namaskara Mandapa. Vishnu also has a balippura on the south. Towards the west, one can pray to Sastha, Bhagavathy, Ganapthy, and Bhadra Kali. There is a gopuram at the west entrance and a deepasthambham inside. The large and serene temple pond on the south adds to the pride of this temple. Additionally, daily pooja is conducted in the temple.