The temple finds mention in Brahmanda Purana, Naradiya Purana and Skanda Purana.
According to the accounts, a group of sages wanted to have a sacred view of Vishnu and went all the way to Thiruparkadal, the Ocean of Milk.
They could not view Vishnu there and went all the way to Vaikunta, the heavenly abode of Vishnu.
The guardians there stated that they could meet Vishnu only in a place close to the seashore north of Kumbakonam, south of Tirupathi and west of Kanchipuram.
When the sages reached there, they found sage Markandeya and his daughter Bhudevi were doing penance.
They could view Mahavishnu in resplendent form with his weapons Sudarshana (wheel), Panchajanya (conch) and Kaumodaki gracing his arms.

As per another legend, Vishnu handed the job of obtaining the pure water of lake Vraja Theertha located in the nether world to Garuda, the eagle vahana.
Garuda reached the nether world and secretively obtained the water from the lake, without the knowledge of the sage, who established the lake.
The sage came to know about it and cursed the water to turn impure.
Garuda then pleaded with the sage indicating the orders of Vishnu.
The elongated transaction delayed the proceedings and Vishnu turned to his other prime devotee Adhisesha the serpent who constructed a well by whipping the earth with his tail.
The water from this well is used daily for the preparation of the temple prasad.
The legend says, adding salt, pepper and jaggery to this well cures the devotee of any ailments and is religiously followed by people with skin ailments.
Garuda was highly aggrieved and felt for his guilt.
Vishnu appeased him saying that he would establish a river, which is believed to be the Kedilam river.
A ceremonial bath is celebrated annually to commemorate the event.
The temple finds mention in Brahmanda Purana, Naradiya Purana and Skanda Purana. According to the accounts, a group of sages wanted to have a sacred view of Vishnu and went all the way to Thiruparkadal, the Ocean of Milk. They could not view Vishnu there and went all the way to Vaikunta, the heavenly abode of Vishnu. The guardians there stated that they could meet Vishnu only in a place close to the seashore north of Kumbakonam, south of Tirupathi and west of Kanchipuram. When the sages reached there, they found sage Markandeya and his daughter Bhudevi were doing penance. They could view Mahavishnu in resplendent form with his weapons Sudarshana (wheel), Panchajanya (conch) and Kaumodaki gracing his arms.
As per another legend, Vishnu handed the job of obtaining the pure water of lake Vraja Theertha located in the nether world to Garuda, the eagle vahana. Garuda reached the nether world and secretively obtained the water from the lake, without the knowledge of the sage, who established the lake. The sage came to know about it and cursed the water to turn impure. Garuda then pleaded with the sage indicating the orders of Vishnu. The elongated transaction delayed the proceedings and Vishnu turned to his other prime devotee Adhisesha the serpent who constructed a well by whipping the earth with his tail. The water from this well is used daily for the preparation of the temple prasad. The legend says, adding salt, pepper and jaggery to this well cures the devotee of any ailments and is religiously followed by people with skin ailments. Garuda was highly aggrieved and felt for his guilt. Vishnu appeased him saying that he would establish a river, which is believed to be the Kedilam river. A ceremonial bath is celebrated annually to commemorate the event.
Devanathaswamy temple