Vishnu appeared here in this temple sitting on a Garuda to give darshan to a Chollha king and hence thereafter He posed as such in this temple for the devotees also.[1]
Mythical importance
It was a myth that long long ago, Sage Bruhu was in deep meditation. Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered with loud noises of a Chollha king who was hunting a lion. Disturbed by this, the sage cursed the king to bear a lion's face. Regretting the intrusion, the king sought for a remedy. The sage advised him to take bath in the river Vettraru (also known as Vruddha Cauvery) and to pray Vishnu at this place for his goodness. The king did so and it worked to regain his human features. After that this place got importance.[2]