Devotees from other places, districts and states visit the temple seeking good health.

Majority of devotees come here for remedy from illness and for early discharge from hospitals.  They experience mental peace.  Mother Meenakshi graces the devotees with early and happy wedding and children.  People offer Vastras to the Lord.  They also pray for academic excellence and for profitable results in the endeavours they take on some aims.

There is a chapter in Tiruvilayadal Puranam describing the way to Madurai whose borders were erased due to a tsunami then.  King Vangia Sekhara Pandya prayed to Lord Shiva to reconstruct Madurai in its original form and size.   Lord Shiva threw a long snake named Aalavai which circled around the whole Madurai city.  The mouth and the tail of the snake met at a place where the temple now stands on the southern (Then) part, hence the name Then Tiru Aalavai.

Aswatha Pradakshina: If a patient, left by the best doctors as hopeless, go round the sacred tree – Arasamaram – 108 times and submit his/her prayers sincerely, they are cured marvellously.  It is experienced even today.  Also, those desirous of longevity follow this procedure.  60^th and 80^th birth days are celebrated in this temple.  Of the Pancha Bhoodha places in Madurai, those praying to the first and ancient Chokkanatha are blessed with prosperity, while Immayil Nanmai Tharuvar (God gracing in this birth itself) attain good positions.  Then Tiru Aalavai Lord frees the devotee from the fear of death.  This is the place where Saivite Saint Tirugnanasambandar sung the glory of the sacred ash – Tiruneetru Pathiam.  Lord  here is known also as Viadyanatha – doctor of doctors – as He graces His darshan to the devotee when Yama approaches them and free them from the fear of death.  When Yama comes to take the life of others, he also prays to Lord for his own safety and takes the sacred ashes wearing it on his body.

During the mid 7^th century, Tamilnadu, Madurai in particular was the centre of an intense religious battle between Jainism and Saivism, the former indulging in many tactics to influence their philosophy with political backing engaging themselves to crush Saivism.  King Koon Pandiyan (hunchback pandiayan) embraced Jainism while Queen Mangayarkarasi and Prime Minister Kulachirayar were staunch saivites.  The queen prayed to Lord Shiva to turn her husband to Saivism.  Koon Pandiyan could not bear the heat in the body when Jain Monks tried their best with their Tantras to cure him.  Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of the queen and advised her to perform Abishek to the Lord of Then Tiru Aalavai and bring the sacred ashes blessed with the hymns (Tiruneettru Pathigam) of Tirugananasambandar and apply it on the body of the king.  The queen followed the directions of the Lord.  The king was totally cured and turned back to Saivism knowing the grace of Lord Shiva.  His hunchback also straightened and became majestic of a king. He surrendered to the feet of the Lord.