According to Puranas, this grand shrine was very popular and extxemely holy as many Sivalilas were demonstrated in the dim past.
Tiruketeeswaram, near Mannar, is the sthalam where thousands gather on Shivaratri night for veneration of Lord Shiva.
Another very famous Siva Tirukkovil that etched its glorious name on the pages of both Simhaleese chronicles and Tamil Saiva scriptures is Tirukkedheecharam Sivan koil.