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Lord Mahavishnu is worshiped in the form of Azhagar, also known as Kallazhagar and Sundararajar. Vishnu presides as Meenakshi's brother Azhagar. In the topmost right hand, He has Prayoka Chakram, which means a special one. Goddess Sundaravalli Thayar is in a separate shrine. 

The Lord Kallazhagar in the standing posture is very handsome and a divine treat to watch!  Goddess Sridevi and  Goddess Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum.

Legend has it that sage Suthapas was bathing in the Nupura Gangai at Azhagar Hill. He did not attend to Durvasar Maharishi, who was passing by. The enraged Durvasar cursed Suthapas, saying that he would turn into a frog until he is redeemed of his curse by Lord Sundararajar, who was also called Kallazhagar. 

Suthapas Maharishi, who is named ‘Mandooga maharisi’ because of his frog status, performed ‘thapas’ (prayer) on the banks of River Vaigai, which is otherwise known as Vegavathi at Thenur. 

Lord Kallazhagar redeemed the sage of his curse and left for His abode. "Kallar" in Tamil means thief. The Perumal is called with this name because He steals all of His bhaktas heart by His beauty and the blessings. He protects all His bhaktas from the evil. 

According to legend, this temple was built by God Dharmadevan. Later, it was renovated by the Pandian King named  Malayadhwaja Pandyan, son of Kulasekhara Pandyan, who is said to have established the Pandyan kingdom and appears to be the earliest known monarch who patronized this temple.

It is also said that Malayathdwajan prayed Shri Azhagar in this temple and got Goddess Meenakshi as his daughter. 

When Srirangam in Trichy (one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu) was looted by Muslims, to save the sculpture of Lord Vishnu, a fierce devotee, called Pillai Logaachariyaar had taken the sculpture in a  Palanquin and traveled to a safe place towards the south direction. 

On their way while traveling, Pillai Logaachariyaar had died at the place called Jodishkudi. His followers, with out giving up this effort, took the vigraham safely to Thirmalirunsolai (Azhagar Kovil) and had dug a well and named it as Azhagiya Manavaalan Thirukinaru, and kept the vigrahaml safely in the well and had done all poojas to the well. 

Thus, for more than a year, Thiru Arangan (the vigraham of Lord Vishnu) had stayed in Azhagar Malai. Then, the vigraham of Thiru Arangan had been taken to some other places in Kerala (then called as Malayala desam), and at last after passing 60 years, in 1370, the idol had come back to Sri Rangam safely. 

The main  Gopuram entrance always remains closed, with the shrine of Karupana Swami. The very closed door itself is worshipped as Patinettaam padi Karuppan(meaning, the black Lord who (sits) above the Eighteen steps ). There are various legends associated with this. 

Only once in a year, the door is opened and Sudarshana Chakra(Or Chakrathazhwar), Lord Vishnu's wheel, passes over through the open door. Not even the Lord's Utsava Murti (deity for processions and festivals) goes through this passage. This is a centuries-old practice. 

The temple is famed for its beauty of exquisite sculptures in the hall and other mandapams.

Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD.  

The temple is built on a large area in a rather picturesque area. It is surrounded by ruins of a historic fort. The Kallazhagar Temple covers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five-tiered gopuram. 

The temple is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls. The impressive main tower at the entrance is believed to have been built by the Pandyan Kings.

The Kallazhagar Temple is  located in Azhagar Kovil, which is located 21 km to the northwest of Madurai on a picturesque wooded hill. Pazhamudhirsolai, one of the six abodes of Lord Subrahmanya, is on the same hill, about 4 km from Azhagar Kovil.

The temple address is: Arulmigu Kallazhagar Thirukovil, Azhagar Kovil, Melur Taluk,Madurai District , Tamil Nadu– 625301.