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Lord Varuna gave him a winnow (surpa), which turned into a territory. Another version is that Varuna asked Parasurama to hurl the axe into the sea which turned into a territory. It was then known by Surparaka which came from the word Surpa (winnow). This is the present day Kerala as per the legends.

He then went to Mount Kailash and requested his Guru Lord Siva to make Kerala as his abode. On his disciple’s request, Siva with His Consort Parvathi, Ganapathi, Subramanya and other Gana’s followed his disciple and disappeared after reaching Thrissur. Parasurama saw the self-manifested Siva Linga under the huge Banyan Tree. This is the first place where Lord Siva manifested himself and this place known as Sri Mula Sthana.

When King of this region decided to construct the temple, Yogathiripad (temple chief priest) protected this Linga while the tree was cut. The Siva Linga was then moved to the present location and a beautiful temple was built.

For the temple there is no annual festival and the important ceremony being Shivaratri for the temple and the idol of the Lord is not taken out for procession. In vrischikam or in the month of November or December, puja in the morning is performed at the Southern compound of the temple. People believe that on this day, looking out towards the South to see his wife, after taking Thrikkartika bath in the Meenachil River, returning procession. It is believe that Vilwamangalam Swamiyar once, gave visit to the temple on the Thrikkarthika day in the morning and he realized that Lord Vadakkunatha is not present inside the Sreekovil. And thus, he finally found the Lord on the wall of the compound. And thus the Puja at the wall of the Southern compound was started by Vilwamangalam.