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Saint Musician Composer Thyagaraja was named after the presiding Deity, Lord Thyagaraja, of this Temple at Thiruvarur. Thyagaraja is the name given to the Somaskanda manifestation of Shiva at Tiruvarur and 6 other Sapta Vitanka shrines. The Somaskanda manifestation of Shiva features Shiva, Uma and Skanda; Shiva in a seated posture, with Parvati to his left and with Skanda his son, seated in between the two.

The Thyagaraja shrine assumes a special place in each of the above temples. There are shrines to Lord Thyagaraja at a few other Shivastalams such as Tiruvanmyur and Tiruvotriyur. Lord Thyagaraja is referred to in the ancient Thevaram hymns as Veedhi Vitankar. The Thyagaraja shrine at Tiruvarur is of special significance to Shiva devotees. 

The term Vitanka (Veedhi Vitanka as in Tiruvarur) represents the Thyagaraja image, as well as the Shivalingam (made of precious stone, placed in a silver casket) that is also enshrined in the shrine dedicated to Thyagaraja to the right of the image.

The term Vitanka (sanskrit) refers to that which is not sculpted. An emerald Shivalingam in the Thyagaraja shrine at Tiruvarur is offered all the ritual ablutions and services. In the context of the Dhevaram hymns, the term Vitankar refers to a person (Shiva) of extraordinary beauty.

The name Thyagaraja assumed popularity only from the Maratha period (17th century) in Thanjavur. Thyagaraja at Tiruvarur has been referred to as Aaruran or Veedhivitankar by the Dhevaram hymns and by the Chola inscriptions.

The first references to the name Thyagaraja - or the Great Giver goes back to the tamil work of the court poet Ottakoothar of the Chola Kingdom in the 12th century. The Mucukunda Sahasranamam which dates back to this period also refers to the Tyaga (or the giving) attributes of Vitanka.

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Note:
Lord Thyagaraja, also called Vitankar, is the patron deity of Cholas. The legend goes that their mythical progenitor Chola Muchukuntan helped Indra against the asuras, for which help, he was presented with seven images of Thyagaraja, which he installed in the seven holy places of Thiruvarur, Thiru-nagai-karonam, Thiru-kkareyil, Thirukolili, Thirumaraikadu, Thirunallaru and Thiruvamur which are known as Sapta-Vitanka-Kshetras. Rajaraja Cholan was a devout worshiper of Lord Thyagaraja at Thiruvarur where he built this great temple; and consecrated Lord Thyagaraja at Thanjavur, as a mark of his own piety and in commemoration of the exploits of his celebrated ancestor.