The word "Vidai" means "ox". There is a legend that the statue of the ox or "Nandi" sculptured for this temple became alive and thus, the name came to this place. One among the 18 Siddas, Edaikadar died in this place and it became Edaicode and then it became Thiruvidaicode they say. According to the villagers, on the western side of the sanctum stands the tomb or "Samadi" of Edaikkadar. There is an Edikkadar Hill and Edaikkadar Pond here.
