Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira 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 Vaithamanidhi Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Kolurvalli.

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

According to the temple's regional legend, Kubera, the lord of wealth, was once cursed by Shiva for his lustful glance towards Parvati.

[3] The annual 10 day festival of the temple takes place on the Tamil month of Aavani (August-September).

During the 5th day of Vaisaki festival of Nammazhwar in Alwar Thirunagari (May–June ,the festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathi shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana, a sacred vehicle of Lord Vishnu to Alwar Thirunagari temple.

An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his pasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these nine temples are recited.

[4][5] During this festival, the idols of Vaithamanidhi Perumal and Mathura Kavi Azhwar are also taken to Alwar Thirunagari for Garudasevai.

Brahmanda Purana, one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism, and written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam.

Vaikunta Mahatmeeyam is another work in Sanskrit that glorifies the temple and is a part of Tamraparani Sthalapurana available only in palm manuscripts.

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

As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnava tradition, from the Brahmin community.

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