Constructed in the Tamil style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 10th century.

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The inscriptions from the time of Rajaraja I (ARE 47 of 1927-28) indicates tax free gifts of land for conducting festivals and for providing offering to the temple every year by Panchanvan Mahadeviyar, one of the consorts of the ruler.

Another inscription (ARE 68 of 1927-28) dated to the 27th regnal year of the king indicates gift of paddy and money by Angikumara Gramavittan.

The inscriptions (ARE 44 of 1927-28) from the period of Rajendra I (1012–1044 CE) indicates exemption of taxes for certain lands belonging to the temple.

The records from Rajadhiraja (ARE 49 of 1927-28) indicates offering by Pichan Sirudaikal of Saliamangalam making a gift of offering to the ashtamangalam ceremony, the eight steps of bathing of the deity (mirror, water-pot, flag, fly-wisk, elephant goad, drum, lamp and a pair of fish).

The inner precinct of the temple houses the image of the sixty three nayanmar, Agni, Panchalinga, Appar, Vatapi Ganapathy, Subramanya, Sanisvara, Annapurani, Mahalakshmi and Kalasamhara, while the outer precinct has the images of Chintamanisvara, Vinayaga and the Linga worshipped by sage Bharatvaja.

[2] Appar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated Agnipureeswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Third Tirumurai.

The temple rituals are performed three times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m. and Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Agnipureeswarar and Gnanambigai.