In general terms among the people, the place is known as Ayyampettai.  As there are many places under this name, this is specifically called Thanjavur Ayyampettai.

The temple is facing east.  There is no flag post for the temple.  At the entrance, the shrine of the Goddess is on the right side.  The sanctum sanctorum is built of stone and the tower is on the west.  There are not too many sculptures in the tower. Around the corridor are the shrines of Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahmma and Durga and Lord Muruga.

The Maha Mandapa has the shrines of Sun, Moon, Bhairavar and Nalvar the four saivite saints – Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar.

The epigraphy in the temple mentions the place as Rajaraja Chaturvedimangalam of fertile Chola Kingdom Vilanadu.  Another one contains the rules and regulations of the Sabha – Panchayat.  Only those above the age of 40 can contest election for the Sabha and he should not have contested for 10 years earlier.

People pray for family prosperity, removal of obstacles in marriage alliances and progress in education.

The celestial beings called Devas and Jayandhan the son of Indira the king of Devas worshipped in this temple.  Lord Vishnu got His discus by worshipping Lord Shiva here, hence, the deity of the temple is named Chakravakeswarar.

The temple has also the reputation of one of the Sapthasthalas – the seven important shrines worshipped by Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri and Chamundi.

Lord Vishnu was blessed with the discus, and the bird Chakravala paravai worshipped Lord Shiva in the temple, are the two stories mention in the history of the place.