The temple stands majestically with a five tier Rajagopuram and three corridors-prakaras.  In the inner prakara are the shrines for Lord Selva Vinayaka and Udhavi Vinayaka, Arumugha, 63 Nayanmars, Saptha Madhas, Pancha Murthys, Yuga Lingas, Vishnu Linga, Gurus of Saivite religion, Mother Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas the nine planets, Bhairava, Sun and Moon.  The temple was renovated by ancient emperors as Tirisangu and Harichandra.

Those seeking child boon go 11 rounds of the Ambica shrine with wet cloths on New Moon day, offer butter as nivedhana and consume it for 48 days to realize the boon.

It is not possible to worship the Lord alone as He is ever with Mother Parvathi to teach wisdom to Devas.  The sanctum sanctorum is also the Palli Arai in the temple.  Lord in the temple is praised as Udhavi Nayakan (Lord who helps all) as mentioned in the hymns of saint Sambandar.  Kedila River represents the grace of Mother Mahalakshmi while Mother Saraswathi flows in the form of Sweta River, both meeting here.

The devotee can have the darshan of the Lord throughout the puja time in all temples.  Here the darshan is available for a few seconds only as the curtain is downed.  As Lord and Mother are in privacy, Bheema Rudra, one among the 11 Rudras functions in the form of the screen.  Hence, the first puja is performed to him.  Then the screen is raised for a few minutes for the darshan of devotees.

The Mooshiga Vahan-mouse vahan- of Vinayaka is by his side instead of being before Him.  The buffalo head under the feet of Mother Durga is absent.  She has a club in Her hands.  Four pillars in the mandap before the Lord’s shrine represent the Four Vedas.  Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva is in the right direction.

As in Madurai, Kancheepuram, Kasi, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, Ambica has the ruling dominance in the temple.  She is holding two flowers in Her hands, lotus and Neelotpala.  The woes of devotees would become softer as flowers, it is said.

Saint Arunagiriar had sung the praise of Lord Muruga of the temple.  Salvation lamp is lit on the hill opposite the mount on the Rohini star day in Karthikai month-November-December.  Thousands of devotees undertake Girivalam (going round the hill) on poornima-full moon days.  All the Gods in the temple are under Aditya Vimana.

Lord Vishnu wanted to show the charitable character of Mahabali, the grandson of the celebrated Vishnu devotee Prahlada.  Lord was born the 12^th child of Kashyapa and Athithi couple as Vamana Brahmmachari.  Mahabali also had a little pride about his charitable attitude.  Vamana approached Mahabali seeking 3 feet of land.  Lord measured the whole earth by one of His foot and the second covering the space and asked the emperor for the third.  Mahabali politely offered his head for the third.  Pleased with his Bhakti, Lord Vishnu placed him in the list of the Chiranjeevis the immortals.

Though Lord proved Bali’s glory, he had to incur the blame of the society for the method He employed in the event.  He prayed in this temple for relief.  Hence, the place is named Thiru (a respectful prefix) Maani (Brahammachari Vishnu) Kuzhi place – Tirumanikuzhi.