The temple has a three-tiered gateway tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The temple occupies an area of around 1.5 acres (0.61 ha). The central shrine houses the image of Jalantheeswarar in the form of Lingam.
The image of Lingam is made of sand and sacred ablution is performed only on the Aavudayar. The shrine of Kiriraca Kannikar, the consort of Shiva facing West is located in the Mahamandapam leading to the sanctum.
The central shrine is approached through the flagstaff and Mahamandapam, both which are located axial to the gateway. The central shrine has entrance towards South and can be approached circumbulating the shrine. The temple tank has natural spring, which fills through Nandi's shrine. Since water comes out of Nandi's mouth, it called Pokkeswarar temple.
As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of Vinayaka, Murugan, Navagraha, Chandikesa and Durga are located around the precinct of the main shrine.
The temple has specimen of Thyagaraja, which is classified as Pre-Rajasimha style of Pallavas. Siva is sported in seated posture holding a rosary and an axe in the back left and right hands. Skanda is seen in standing posture between Siva and Uma. The model in the temple is seen similar to the one at Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur.[5] The temple has Koshta Murthi (Vishnu) in place of Lingothbhava on the wall around the sanctum. There are sculptures of Durga and Koshta Murthi of Brahma is also found seated.
It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanars Sambandar.[6] Periyapuranam, the treatise about 63 Nayanmars of Shaivites, gives an account of the temple. The Sthalapuranam of the temple, Orriyur Puranam refers to the Nandi of the temple.