Once there was a king named Amsa. He was childless. He conducted many yagas to be blessed with a child. At last he came to Tiruvarur, installed a Siva Lingam in the temple and conducted penance for many years. Then Siva gave darsan to the King and blessed him. So the Lingam came to be known as Siddheesar (Siddhi means success and Eesar means God). By worshipping this Lingam one can- get what all one desires in this world.

One day King Kulisa while feeding Durvasa Maharshi mixed meat in the meal by mistake. The Maharshi, enraged by this act of the King, cursed him to turn into a tiger. But soon the Rishi cooled down and told the King.After some years you will see the divine cow Kamadhenu when you will get moksham.

The tiger roamed in the forests and at last came to a place near Tiruvarur where it happened to meet Kamadhenu with her calf. The cow used to go to the temple of Lord Tyagaraja daily and worship, Vanesa Lingam bathing it with its own milk. On seeing the cow Kamadhenu, the tiger rushed towards her. Thereupon the cow replied :I don't worry about being killed by you, but the thing is I have not the Siva Lingam today. So kindly permit me to finish my duties first. I shall certainly come back here when you can kill me.The tiger was not willing to miss the, chance; yet, believing the words of the cow, he permitted her to do so.Kamadhenu returned promptly after finishing her duties. The tiger was touched by the exemplary behavior of the cow and had no mind to kill her. Then the tiger came to know about its past life.It went to Tyagaraja's temple, worshipped the Lingam and attained Moksham.