Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, by Nammalvar, one of the Sri Vaishnava saint-poets of the 8th century called the Alvars.

To overcome the sin of the lie, according to this temple's regional legend, he underwent penance worshiping Vishnu here.

The temple is believed to have been built by devas along the banks of Chittar, a tributary of holy river Pampa, before mankind was born.

Yudhishthira after having a holy bath, installed the idols after immersing it in the Pushkarani (Pond), filling the Conch with its water and performed the first Pooja after installation Hence, the pond at Thrichittat is named as - Amurtha Pushkarani, since the idol was immersed in it and as - Shankha Tirtham, on the occasion of the pond's water filling the Conch, therefore, worshipping at Shankha Tirtham, is considered equivalent to that of Sree Kovil (Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple), and full darshanam is complete when both places are worshipped Earliest references to this temple appear in the poems and hymns composed by the greatest of Alvar saints - Nammalvar, in circa 800 CE.

The metal plated flagpost or dvajasthambam is located axial to the temple tower leading to the central sanctum.

[8] Between the entrance of Nallambalam to the sanctum, there is a raised square platform called Namaskara Mandapa which has a pyramidal roof.

Thevrapura, the kitchen used to cook offering to the deity is located on the left of Namaskara Mandapa from the entrance.

[13] Imayavarppa Perumal temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Sri Vaishnava canon, by Nammalvar.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupati Antati by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.