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As the prominence is on Lord Venkatesa Perumal alone in the temple, there is no shrine for Mother Goddess or any co-deities (parivara devathas).

A rishi, Gunaseelar, after his darshan at Tirupathi, came here and begged the Lord to come and stay in his hermitage on the banks of Cauvery. The Lord obliged. The place came to be known as Gunaseelam after his name.

As his Guru Thalpier Rishi called him to be with him, Gunaseela entrusted the puja duties and maintenance of the Lord to his disciple. Gunaseelam was a jungle then. Wild animals seized the place. The disciple ran away from the place in fear. Perumal was covered by an ant-hill.

Gnanavarma was ruling this region then. His cows came here for grazing. The milk gathered in the vessels was found consumed. He heard a voice that there was an idol in the ant-hill. He took the idol out and built this temple naming the Lord Prasanna Venkatachalapathy.

There are niches around the sanctum with the images of Narasimha, Navaneetha Krishna, Varaha, Sridevi and Bhudevi. 

There are stucco sculptures on the vimana depicting Narasimha on Garuda and an idol of Lord Vishnu with Shanka and Chakra. The temple has a shrine of Vikhasana Maharishi, after whom the Vaiganasa Agama of Vaishnavism is followed. 

Since Lord Venkateswara at Tirupathi Himself appeared before Gunaseela Maharishi, it is believed that those who are not able to go to Tirupathi can visit Gunaseelam and all their wishes are said to be fulfilled here. 

The central shrine of the temple houses the presiding deity Prasanna Venkatachalapathy in standing posture. The idol has four hands - one showing Abhaya mudra, one carrying the weapon Gatha, one carrying conch and other carrying the Chakra.

The temple bears absolutely no resemblance to what it was a quarter of a century ago. With devotees’ contribution, the hereditary trustees have transformed the temple to reflect modern day architecture. New paintings and photographs adorn the temple, with modern flooring. There is written documentation that the temple should be renovated in the 5000th year of Kaliyuga. The renovation was accordingly done. The temple has a shrine for Viganasar, the founder of Vaikanasa Aagamam. Legend says he was given Brahminhood by Venkateshwara himself alongside Brahma, the god of creation.

The procession deity Srinivasa graces us with His consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi wearing the Salagrama garland. Tirumanjanam is performed to the presiding deity daily. The abishek water and the sandal applied to the Lord are given as Prasad to the devotees.