The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 7:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., and three major yearly festivals on its calendar.

The temple complex houses a three-tier known as gopuram (gateway tower) and has moats inside and outside the surrounding walls.

The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Thanjavur Nayaks.

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Sambandar in his works in Tevaram mentions that this place was originally occupied by Buddhists (Calukkiyar) and hence it came to be known as Cakkiyarkkottai, which with time became Cakkottai.

[3] The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Thanjavur Nayaks.

There are smaller shrines for Dhandapani Muruga in a small size and Nardana Vinayaka on the southern side.

[4] Sundarar venerated Amirtakateswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Seventh Tirumurai.

Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaivaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste.

The temple rituals are performed four times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman.

The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast.