This idol was the second main idol (mula murti) in the shrine. According to local legend, the goddess appeared in a dream of a devotee and told him where her procession idol (utsava murti) was. The idol was dug up by the devotee and re-installed.
The second main idol at the shrine was this one.  Local lore claims that the goddess revealed to a devotee where his procession idol (utsava murti) was, leading him to unearth it and reinstall it.