Before the assembled sages at Sri Kalahasti, Lord Shiva tested Kanna’s (later transformed into Bhaktha Kannappa) unwavering devotion. Lord Shiva used his heavenly power to cause an earthquake, which caused the temple’s roofs to start to collapse. With the exception of Kannappa, who shielded the linga from harm by covering it with his body, all the sages fled the scene.

In a different instance, Kannappa took out one of his eyeballs and put it in Linga’s eye, which was dripping with tears and blood. Kannappa removed his second eye and planted one of his foot where the Shiva Linga’s right eye was when the tears and blood were still seeping from the other eye. Before he could use the arrow to extract his second eye, Lord Shiva materialized, healed his eye, and bestowed upon him a boon to live beside him.

As per the book Sixty-Three Nayanar Saints written by Swami Sivananda, certain Saivite traditions maintain that Kannappa is the rebirth of Arjuna. After searching for the Pasupatha Astra and failing to recognize Siva in the shape of a hunter, Arjuna worshiped Siva. Thus, in accordance with this legend, Arjuna could not achieve ultimate emancipation unless he was born as a hunter and loved the Lord.

One of the biggest festival seasons here is Maha Shivaratri, which takes place during the Tamil month of Maasi (February 15 through March 15). The celebrations are highlighted by processions of the deities. Maha Shivaratri falls on the fifth day of the festival in the month of Maasi.
A 12-day celebration of immense significance, Sivarathri Brahmotsavam draws thousands of people from all around our nation. The main attractions of this festival include Mahasivarathri, Nandi Seva, Lingodbhavam, Rathotsavam, Teppotsavam, and Sri Swami-Ammavarla Kalyanotsavam.