This temple is at a beautiful place at Sreekaryam, in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram. Originally there was a huge pond with rocks protruding out of it. It was in the middle of this pond that the effulgence of the Lord appeared in the self-originated form. Gradually this place became the temple. At one time it was only a sanctuary for the Nagas, A Brahmin of the Itayavanathu Madom used to walk a long distance every day to worship Lord Mahadeva. One day as he had a wound on his leg, he could not reach the temple in time for the pooja in the evening. He
more was very sad that he could not see his beloved Lord. Then he had a dream from which he understood he could see Lord Mahadeva near the grove where he used to worship the Nagas. The next morning, he saw the self-originated Siva linga on the rock in the middle of the pond. He started offering poojas here for Mahadeva as Mirthyunjaya. It was believed that drinking the water of the grove of the Nagas could cure any disease. That belief continues to be held by devotees of Mahadeva too. The self-originated linga can be seen just below the level of the ground. The rituals here are different from those followed in other temples.
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