Koodal Azhagar Koyil, is one of the 108 Divya Desams(108 Vishnu temples). The word ‘Koodal’ means Madurai and ‘Azhagar’ means beautiful person. The temple holds its uniqueness in depicting Lord Vishnu in three forms : sitting, standing and reclining. Lord Vishnu here is being accompanied by Sri Devi and Poo Devi. The Amman, here, know as Madhura Valli Thaayar has got a seperate sannadhi and there is also a sannadhi for Navagraha. No other Vishnu temple has got a sannadhi for Navagraha, and this shows the unity of Vaishnavites and Shaivites; there is also a sannadhi for Aandal.

This temple is famous for its Vimaanam (Tower), like the temple in Tanjore, the Vimaanam is built in such a way that the shadow doesn’t fall on the ground. This is the only temple where its Vimaanam has eight sides, in the shape of an octagon. People can enter the Vimaanam and see how beautifully it was sculpted. Resources say that a part of the temple was knocked down and renovated again.

The Vimaanam holds beautiful idols of Gods and Goddesses. The temple is surrounded by many small, small temples such as Hanuman temple, Hayagreevar temple. Legend says that this Hanuman gave the ring to Sita and consoled her that Ram is searching for her and Hayagreevar is said to be the one who provided Vedic knowledge to Lord Brahma. The temple spreads the divinity all over the city during ‘Purataasi Sani’ (Sani- Saturday ; Purataasi- Tamil month) which is very famous in this temple.