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 Yathothkari Perumal, and his consort Lakshmi as Komalavalli.

The temple finds a mention in the Sangam text Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai which is dated between 300 BCE and 100 CE.

[1] The temple is believed to have been built by the Pallavas of the late 8th century CE, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagara kings.

As Vishnu interfered the path of the river, it was termed Vegavani, then as Vegannai and gradually corrupted to Vekka.

[2][3][4] As per historian Nagaswamy, the temple was called Vehha meaning Vishnu leaning as a slanted slope, which gradually became vekka.

[8] The temple finds a mention in the Sangam text Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai which is dated between 300 BCE and 100 CE.

Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai Mentions Lord Vishnu sleeping on a serpent bed in the town Thiruvekka where the Gloriosa superba blooms.

A record of the Chola king, Parantaka I (907–950 CE) indicating gift of 367 kalanju of gold to the temple by an individual .

The inscriptions on the base of the eastern wall of the central shrine from the period of Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) indicating gift for lighting lamps of the temple.

The southern side inscriptions of the temple from the period of Kulothunga Chola III (1178–1218 CE) indicates a gift of village to feed 32 Brahmins.

[10] The central shrine of the temple has the image of presiding deity, "Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal" sported in Bhuganja Sayanam posture.

The West facing sanctum is approached through the flagstaff, pillared halls, namely Mahamandapam and the Ardhamandapam.

The temple lotus tank where Poigai Alvar was born is located outside the main entrance, parallel to the shrine.

As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste.

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 Yathothkari Perumal and Komalavalli.

Brahmotsavam celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April - May) is the major festival of the temple.

[12] To indicate the legend of Kanikannan, the festive image of Yathothkari, Tirumalisai Alvar and Kanikkannan are taken in procession to Orikkai village to have a short stay during the Thai Magam festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February).

The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Poigai Alvar, Peyalvar, Bhoothathalvar and Thirumalisai Avar.