The main deity is Sri Sarangapani and the Thaayar is Sri Komala Valli.
The legend is among the Sages, a discussion arose as to who is the god among the Trinity who is having maximum patience. Lord Sri Vishnu was found to be the God with lots of patience and remained calm even when Sage Brigu kicked Sri Vishnu in his chest. To get rid of this curse he did penance and wanted that Goddess Sri Lakshmi to be born as his daughter, because Goddess Sri Lakshmi became invisible when Brigu kicked her husband. Since Goddess Sri Lakshmi came to the Earth Lord Sri Vishnu also came and started searching for Sri Mahalakshmi. Sri Lakshmi was found as a small baby near a lotus pond and was brought up by Sage Brigu as his own daughter and named her Sri Komala Valli. On one Makara Shankranthi day Lord Sri Vishnu married Sri Lakshmi at this place and gave Vimochana to Sage Brigu. At that time Sri Vishnu was holding his divine bow known as Sarangam, and hence he was known as Sri Sarangapani.
The Gopuram's of 3 Vishnu Temples in Tamil Nadu are the tallest, Sri Rangam 236 Ft., Srivilliputtur 165 Ft., and this Sarangapani Temple 150 Ft. 11 Azhwars like Thirumangaizhwar, Nammazhwar, Thirumazhisaiazhwar and Andal amongst others have sung in praise of this Lord. In this temple separate pooja is performed for Utsavar in the same way as is performed for the Moolavar.
Once in 12 years, the Planet Jupiter (Guru) enters Simha Rasi whose exalted Star is Magha and at this time the Nine Sacred rivers of India like, Ganga, Cauvery, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu, Krishna and Saraayu enters. the Mahamaham Tank and at that time a bath in this tank removes the sins of the devotees. The Chariot known as Chittarai Theru is one of the biggest in Tamil Nadu. This God was instrumental for the composition of the famous Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, since he inspired Natha Munigal for starting this Divya Prabhandham.
Once Thirumazhisaiazhwar asked the Perumal whether he is taking rest in a reclining posture because he was tired of walking from Sri Lanka to this place or because he dug the earth in Varaha Form to find the feet of Lord Sri Shiva and got tired, whereupon Lord Sri Vishnu tried to get up. Thirumazhisaiazhwar repenting his question requested the Lord not to get up and the Lord remained in that position. Even now the idol of Lord Sri Vishnu is just like trying to get up from the lying posture. Hence he is also known as Sri Udhava Sayi.
The Mantapam in front of the God is with images of lion, and was supposed to have been built by Sri Mahendra Pallava.
The Goddess Sri Komala Valli is in a separate Shrine and is never taken out of the temple and is supposed to be in the service of Lord Sri Vishnu inside the temple itself and hence she is also known as Padi Thantatha Patni. The utsav Murthy is also holding the Bow, Saranga. King Sri Krishnadevaraya has renovated this temple during his period. This temple is considered to be the Kasi, for removing the sins of the devotees.
There are also Idols for Sri Chakrapani, Sri Rama, Sri Varaha, Sri Gopala, Sri Vedanarayana and Sri Varadharaja. Out of this Sri Rama is in Pattabhishekam Kolam in a separate Shrine.
The Sanctum itself is quite big and is in the shape of a chariot with huge wheels and is believed to be the chariot of Sri Krishna who came in this chariot to marry the Goddess. There are two entrances to this temple known as utharayanam Vasal and dakhsinayana Vasal and are used during those period of six months.
In this town a devotee by name Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy died without any relatives to perform his last rites. The next day after the body was cremated the Lord Sri Vishnu himself appeared with the Yajnopaveetha (Punal) and Dharbhai grass in his hands and performed the last rites.
This Vaisnavite temple is the Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Surya Bhagawan.