As per Hindu legend, the king Ubhamanyu earned the wrath of sage Durvasar and lost all his physical strength.

[2][3] The place is called "Koviladi" because it is located downstream of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, which is referred as kovil in Vaishnava tradition.

The Alvars refer the place as "Tiruppernagar" in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, the Sri Vaishnava canon.

The Moolavar (presiding deity) of the temple, "Appala Rangan", is seen in Bhujangasayanm (a reclining posture) facing west and is surrounded by Bhooma Devi and Kamalavalli Thayar.

The central deity is depicted in a reclining posture called pujanga sayanam, and he is shown holding the holy pot in his right hand.

Like other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, from the Brahmin varna.

The worship involves religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast.

The major festivals celebrated in the temple are 13-day Panguni Brahmotsavam, Kaisika Dwadasi in Karthigai (November - December), Teertha Vari at the River Cauvery on the day of Maasi Magam (February - March) and Nammalvar Moksham during Era Pathu in Margali (December - February).

It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April–May); devotees pull the temple chariot housing the festival deity, round the streets of Koviladi.

Vaikuntha Ekadashi during December–January, Navarathri during September–October and butter pot breaking ceremony (locally called uri adi) are the other festivals celebrated in the temple.

There is a belief that childless couples upon praying and offering butter with sugar to the Santhanagopalan deity at the temple are blessed with children.