The temple occupies an area of 5 acres (2.0 ha) and is surrounded by a granite wall 580 ft (180 m) long and 396 ft (121 m) broad. The rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, is 110 ft (34 m) tall. The granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and two of its three bodies of water.
The sanctum houses the image of Vishnu as Srivaikunanatha in standing posture with a club in his hand. Adisesha, the serpent of Vishnu, is seen holding a parasol over his head. The image is made of Saligrama stone and ablution is usually done with milk. The hall preceding the sanctum, the Artha Mandapam houses the festival image of Vishnu made of panchaloha with the images of his consorts Sridevi (Lakshmi) and Bhudevi on either of his sides.
It is believed that the sculptor caressed the cheeks of the image with his hand as he got enchanted by the image and it is seen in the image. The Ardha mandapa is guarded by two dwarapalas on either sides. This is the only temple where Adisesha the serpent, guards Vishnu in standing posture unlike the other places where it covers in sitting posture.
There are two shrines for the two consorts of Vishnu, Caikunta Nayaki and Chorantha Nayaki, both facing each other. There are separate shrines for Vishvaksena (Senai Mudaliyar), Garuda, Krishna as Venugopala, Manavala Mamunigal and Yoga Narasimha. The festival image of Yoga Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha, is also housed in the same shrine. There is another shrine that houses the images of the ten avatars of Vishnu. The temple has five precincts.
The Mahamandapa and the Swarga Madapa are believed to be later additions.The Vijayanagar and Nayak kings commissioned paintings on the walls of the shrine of temple, some of which are still present. Thiruvengadamudayan hall, located to the right of the gopuram, houses rare life size sculptures commissioned during the 16th century.
It was built by Vadamalayappa Pillai, an official in the Madurai Nayak kingdom. There are numerous images of yalis, elephants and deities in the hall, some of which are even 5 ft (1.5 m) wide. The major images seen in the temple are that of Bhikshatana, Venugopala, Krishna as Madanagopala, Krishna as Govardhanagiri, Nammalvar, Kamadeva (Manmatha) and Rati.
Depiction of Hanuman in various poses can be seen in the temple. There are life size images of Agora Virabhadra and warriors. Rama is seen hugging the monkey king Sugreeva with his right hand and holding his bow in the left and on his left stands Sita, while in another pillar he is seen hugging Hanuman with his right hand and Angada seen standing in anjali.
A host of monkey warriors standing at the bottom of both the sculptures. The composite columns of Virabhadra holding sword and horn are found be additions of the Vijayanayagara kings during the early 1500s.
The Dwajastamba mandap has pillars with refined architectural features. Tirumozhi mandap has sculptures of monkeys, squirrels and parrots. It also houses images of monkeys performing various activities. The corridor inside the temple has paintings having the details about the 108 Divya Desam shrines of Vishnu.
There are also paintings detailing the coronation of Rama. There are two temple tanks namely Brighu Theertha and Kalasa theertha near the temple. A huge temple tank near the Tamiraparani river is also associated with the temple. It is in this tank that the float festival is celebrated yearly.
Lions, Yalis and elephants are carved in the pillars of the mandapam. The temple served as a fort during the patriotic war of Kattabomman with the British. The temple has a nine-tier rajagopuram amidst lush vegetation around the temple.