The place kodungallur is mentioned as Muchiri in early Tamil literature, mainly in sangam krithikal .Muchiri or kodungallur was once the capital of the Chera dynasty during the sangam age.

To the greeks & romans , this place was known as Muziris .It is believed that the name Muziris is derived from the anicient temple here , dedicated to masuri devatha , a goddess having immense power to heal small pox.

The temple is believed to have built by the Cheran Chenkuttavan , one of the legendary king of the chera dynasty.