Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.

It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Deepaprakasar, and his consort Lakshmi as Maragathavalli.

The temple has inscriptions on its walls dating from the period of Rajaraja Chola III (1223 CE).

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

She tried to disrupt the penance by sending darkness, but Vishnu interfered "like a light from the lamp", hence he is also called as Vilakoli Perumal.

Since Vishnu appeared as light to overcome the darkness of the situation, he is termed Deepaprakasa Perumal.

[1][2] Vedanta Desika (1268 - 1369 CE) was an ardent devotee of Deepa Prakasa Temple at Thoppul.

The central shrine of the temple has the image of the presiding deity, Deepaprakasa Perumal in sitting posture.

[3] The temple is revered in Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar in one hymn.

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

The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Deepaprakasar and Maragathavalli.