This ancient Śiva temple is located in Māvelikkara - Mānnār route (12 km), 1 km west of the Puthuvalppadi bus stop, before Mānnār. The temple can safely be taken to be of the 9th century A.D. The granite sculptured superstructure wall bears close resemblance to the Kandiyūr Mahādeva temple (10 km away) which also belongs to the same time frame, going by inscriptional evidence. The balikkal is in the open ground in front of the Agra Mantapam. The ceiling of Agra Mantapam has good wood work. The Namaskāra Mantapa and the śrīkōvil‍ walls have exquisitely carved sculptures in wood and granite respectively. The Namaskara Mantapam fronting the śrīkōvil‍ is square with 16 pillars, the central four granite pillars beautifully carved.

There is a view that 'Tirupperunturai' which is closely associated with the life of Śaiva Saint Mānikkavāchakar, is this temple while the Tamils are more or less successful in anchoring the connection to Tiruperunturai in Āvudayarkōil village near Arantāngi, Pudukoṭṭai district, Tamil Nādu. The references in literature is about Perunturai which is a coastal town. This aspect coupled with the fact that in his Thiruvāchakom, Mānikkavāchakar refers to 'Chenni Mannan' in the decad Chenni Pathu (probably the present day Chennithala panchayat), gives an edge to the former claim. The issue is one to be resolved by historians. However, it needs to be mentioned that the Ātmanāthaswami temple in Tiruperunturai, Pudukōṭṭai district is yet another architectural marvel.

Apart from its connection with Śaiva Saint Mānikkavāchakar, the temple can boast of a few other highlights:

• The linga in this temple is considered one of the biggest and ancient (3rd) in the Indian sub continent by archaeologists.
• The śrīkōvil‍ is a granite structure upto adhishtana level and with beautifully sculpted figures along the outer periphery.
• The sōpana bhitti sculptures (in granite) in the Thṛpperunthura temple are one of the most beautiful ones among Kērala temples. The Nataraja Nrittam on the south side and the seated figure of Vishnu on Anantha on the north side bhitti are a class in themselves with exquisitively carved details.
• The daru shilpas in the Namaskara Mantapam compete in excellence with the stone sculptures in the Sri Kovil wall.