Visara Saruman was the son of a Brahmin named Echathan and his wife Pavithra. From a young age, he mastered various arts and had his Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) performed at the age of seven. His sole focus was on Lord Shiva. One day, he witnessed a shepherd beating a calf and took over the task of caring for the cattle. Due to his compassion, the cows began producing abundant milk.
Visara Saruman, immersed in thoughts of Shiva, created a Shiva Linga from the sands of the Manniyar River, placed it under an Aathi tree, and performed pujas and abishek (ritual bathing) with the milk from the cows. The cows continued to give plenty of milk, benefiting their owners as well. However, some people complained that the milk, which was intended for yajnas (sacrificial rites), was being wasted. Even his father, who observed the pujas from a distance, was angered by this and beat Visara Saruman, upsetting the milk pots.
Despite the disturbance, Visara Saruman continued his worship. In response to the disruption, the stick used by his father transformed into an axe, injuring his father’s legs. Lord Shiva, along with Mother Parvathi, appeared to Visara Saruman and revealed that his devotion had led to this act. They declared that henceforth, Lord Shiva would be his father and honoured him with the Kondrai flower garland he was wearing at that time. Lord Shiva also named him Chandikeswara.
The Lord accepted the milk offered by Visara Saruman, which is why he is praised as Paal Ukantha Nathar (the Lord who accepted the milk). The place where Visara Saruman tended the cows came to be known as Aipadi.