[2] The temple is believed to be built upon the site where Vishnu had purportedly killed the demon Gayasura or pinned him underground.

The temple features a 40-cm footprint purported to be of Vishnu incised into a block of basalt, known as Dharmasila which was retained when the deity stepped on Gayasura's chest before pinning him underground.

Atop the structure is a 50-kilo gold flag, donated by a devotee, Gayapal Panda Bal Govind Sen.[3] The Vishnupad temple is the center for Shraddha rites in Gaya.

To prevent immoral people from attaining salvation Vishnu asked Gayasura to go beneath the earth and did so by placing his right foot on asura's head.

[7] The Dharmshila, a sacred stone believed to mark the exact place where Vishnu’s foot first touched the earth[8], is closely associated with this legend.

The present day structure was rebuilt by Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, in 1787, on the banks of the Falgu river.

Inside the Vishnupad Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a silver plated basin.

[12] Within the temple stands the immortal banyan tree Akshayavat where the final rituals for the dead takes place.