The presiding deity made of Iluppai wood was destroyed by fire in the year 1686. The second and the present idol was made with 12,000 Salagrama stones of Vishnu importance with a mixture called Kadu Sarkarai Yoga. This is a very rare idol which we are worshipping now. The idol on the Adi Sesha is 18 feet long in a reclining posture, covered fullywith gold.
Devotees pray for removal of obstacles in wedding matter, for child boon and for good education.with gold .There are many festivals related to this temple. The major festivals are bi-annual.
The Aipashy festival which is in October/November and the Panguni festival which is in Tamil month Panguni, March/April, lasts for 10 days each. On the ninth day the Maharajah of Travancore, in his capacity as Thrippappoor Mooppan, escorts the deities to the vettakkalam for Pallivetta.
Centuries back, the Pallivetta procession was said to pass through Kaithamukku, Kuthiravattom (Kunnumpuram),Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram and Putharikkandam. The festivals culminate with the Aarat (holy bath) procession to the Shankumugham Beach.
The word Aarat refers to the purificatory immersion of the deities of the temple in sea. This event takes place in the evening. The Maharajah of Travancore escorts the Aarat procession on foot. The festival idols "Utsava Vigrahas" of Padmanabhaswamy, Krishna Swami and Narasimha Moorthi are given a ritual bath in the sea, after the prescribed pujas..
