The temple was built by the celebrated Saivite Poet Sekkizhar.  The Vinayaka is Lord Anungai Vinayaka.  The temple has a five tier Tower.  Saint Sundarar with Paravai Nachiar, Lord Satynarayana in form of a serpent, Nagendrar and Lord Naga Nadheswarar grace from their shrines in the Prakara.  There is Shiva Linga in the middle of these three serpents.  There are also shrines for Lord Kasi Viswanatha Mothers Lakshmi and Saraswathi, Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai, Lord Karpaga Vinayaka and Sani Baghwan.

Those afflicted with serpent planet adverse aspects and those facing problems due Ragu planet transition pray for relief.

Lord Shiva-Nageswarar represents the attributes of planet Raghu.  Milk abishek is performed to Lord at 6-30-10.00 a.m and at 5.00 p.m.  Those afflicted by this dosha, participate in this ritual, also perform abishek during Raghu Kala time, offer Ulund dal and rice prepared with Ulund dal.  The preparation is available in the temple itself. For relief from the adverse aspect of the planet, the temple is considered the best religious destination.

Mother Kamakshi on Her Lion Vahan graces from a separate shrine facing south.  Rose water abishek is performed to Mother on Thai Fridays in January-February.  A 10 day Brahmmotsavam is celebrated with Chitra Poornima (Full Moon day) in April-May.  On the eighth day, Lord grants darshan to His devotees when Nalvar the four poet saints, 1) Ganasambandar, 2) Tirunavukkarasar, 3) Sundarar and 4) Manickavasagar with Sekkizhar go in procession around the Lord.  The wedding festival of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi is celebrated on Chitra Poornima day.  During the festival, Lord comes in procession on snake vahan.

Sekkizhar graces from a separate shrine in standing form in prakara facing west worshipping the Lord with Chinmudra and holding palm leaves in hand.  Special abishek is performed to the poet saint on all Poosa star days.  Guru Puja is celebrated for 10 days in Vaikasi (May-June) with Poosa star day.  He is taken to the car shed (procession deity of Sekkizhar) on the Guru Puja day morning, when the public take the saint to the temple on behalf of Lord Himself.  Then Sekkizhar enters the sanctum sanctorum to worship Lord Shiva.  Full procession takes during the night till returning to the temple next morning.  Throughout the day, the temple is open.  There is also a separate temple nearby for Sekkizhar where also a 11 day Guru Puja is celebrated .  On the fourth day of the festival, Sekkizhar visits Tirunageswaram temple.

Sekkizhar belongs to the period of King Anabaya Chola.  The poet has enriched the Saivite philosophy and the Tamil literature thereby through His Magnum Opus Peria Puranam speaking the greatness of 63 Nayanmars.  Arulmozhi Thevar by name, He is popular with the community title Sekkizhar and was also honoured by the title Uthama Chozha Pallava by King Anabaya.

Sekkizhar once visited Tiru Nageswaram near Kumbakonam, a place attributed to Raghu planet.  After worshipping Lord Nageswarar, Sekkizhar desired to enjoy this darshan every day which was not possible due to the long distance from his place.  He decided and built this temple following the same model and installed the Shiva Linga, named the Lord Nageswarar.  The temple became famous as Vada Nageswaram – North Nageswaram.