Legend has it that Lord Rama, after killing Ravana in a war in Sri lanka, came back to this coastal town, rinsed his hair in this holy water to wash off his 'sin' of killing Ravana (son of a rishi).
The theertham also got the name because it was carried by Lord Rama on his head after offering prayers to Lord Shiva and also Jatayu.
The festival is celebrated in 'Theertham', a water Pond, once in 12 years as in Kumbakonam.
The temple Executive officer C Selvaraj said the tank was located in the forest area en route to Danushkodi and so permission of the forest department had to be secured to lay the road. But renovation of the Shiva temple near the Holy water site had been taken up and it would be completed before the Mahamaham next year, he said.
The conservator of forest Gnanapazham,also visited the site along with the Minister.