The Vadapalani temple was built in late 19th century. It all began with Annasamy Naicker, a staunch devotee who with faith in the lord’s powers built a small thatched hut, placed a painted picture of Lord Murugan and began worshipping it religiously everyday. The story goes that once, Annasamy Naicker had chronic stomach ache that he couldn’t find cure to. He travelled wide and far visiting sacred temples of Lord Muruga in spite of very limited to no transport facilities from Thiruthani, Thiruporur braving the rains , the cyclones and thieves on the roads. One day a Sadhu appeared in Annasamy Naicker’s dreams and said when Murugan is right in your house why do you go in search of him all over? He work up with a start, returned home and shared the story with his family and began worshipping the lord with fervent sincerity. With that his daily Pooja routine continued twice everyday in his very home. One day, on the word of a Palani Sadhu he met, Annasamy Naicker offered his tongue at the Thiruthani temple. That put an end to his ailments.

One day when he pursued on his dream trip to the Southern Pazhaniyathra, as he returned after his Darshan of the Dandayuthapani, while descending the steps, a beautiful picture of lord Murugan grabbed his eyes. He was mesmerized by it. He considered it a priceless possession and brought it home to Chennai. He placed it in his home and put a thatched roof over it. He asked his family to shift elsewhere and considered it the very sacred aboard, the Palani. he started solving the problems of others by his “Arul Vaakku” during pooja. He is also known as Pavadam since he offered his tongue to Lord Muruga and took the Pavadam.