Though a very ancient sthala, authentic records are available only from about the 16th Century AD. Its history is gleaned from the District Gazetteer published by the Government, the reports of the Archaeological Department about the inscriptions found in the temple, and the copper plate grands kept in the government Museum. Briefly told, the recent history of Srimushnam is as follows. In the 17th Century the emperors who established and ruled over the Vijayanagar empire, in the Andra Pradesh, the Nayak Kings who were their feudatories and viceroys, who ruled from Golkonda, recognised the great importance of this place and built the Garbagraha, Mandapas, Gopurams, the Prakaras encircling the temple, and the other structures; constructed shrines for the Utsavamurtis, the Alwars and the Acharyas, consecrated them and arranged for daily pujas and periodic special festivals throughout the year, built vahanas, the sacred car and like. They made costly jewels for adorning the Deity and appointed various people for performing different items of service in the temple. The records show that for the proper conduct of the daily and periodic pujas and festivals of the Vijayanagar emperors and the feudatory rulers made princely gifts of several villages and other generous grants. Later, even when the Vijayanagar empire was attacked and over-run by the Moghul emperors pf Delhi, emperor Ferukshiar made large gifts of villages for this temple. Svarup Singh who earned out a small principality round Gingee under Moghul suzerainty patronised the temple. After the defeat of his son, Jey Singh by Sadullakhan, and later when the principality came under the rule of the Poligars, these chieftains considered Sri Bhuvaraha Perumal as their Kuladeivem (family Deity) and constructed by the Udayar Mandapam, offered valuable jewels for adorning the Deity, celebrated various festivals, such as the car festival twice a year and made munificent gifts of land and functioned as hereditary Dharmakartas (Trustees), with the approval of the East India Governmant till 1926. Under the orders of the District Court of South Arcot in O.S. No.27/1912 and the scheme of the Sub-court of the District to which the Scheme suit was transferred, from 1928 the trustees have been appointed by the Sub-court. But in 1951 when the Hindu Religious Endownment enactment the Madras Act of XIX was passed the temple came under the control of the Area Committee; under the revised act of 1968, it has now come under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Commissioner and the appoints trustees to manage the temple.
The main shrine of Sri Bhuvarahaswami is provided with Gopuram on the Western side. The Lord, the presiding Deity faces west; and although the Divine form is disposed towards the west the Thiru Mukhamandala (the Face of the Lord) is facing south, the region of the asuras. The Lord is in the standing posture. Having crushed the asura and rid the world of a mighty force for evil, the Lord with tears of joy, with His arms akimbo (hands on the hips), and face slightly uplifted, presents the very picture of sublime dignity, grandeur and triumph - a sight to behold and enjoy and impossible to describe. The Mulavar is salagrama murti; and it is daily anointed. Above the crown of the Deity stands the famous (Pavana) vimana. The vigraha and vimana are transmaterial (aprakrita) purity itself and self existent (swam- yamvyakta). The puranas tell us how Brahma is ever engaged in worshipping this Deity.
In front of the sanctum sanctorum on the western side of the Ardhamandapam are installed the utsavamurti, Yagnavaraha and his consorts, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi facing west. By their side are seen utsavar, Sri Bhuvarahamurti and Kannan. The utsavamurti, Sri Yagnavaraha, is of transcen- dent beauty. Tradition has it that in response to the prayers of Sri Ambujavalli Thayar, the Lord appeared in human form-not as Varahamurti - as a Divine Bridegroom. In the Sevakala mandapam in front of this, are present to view Bhoga Narayanaswami and his two consorts. During the five seasonsal (Pancha Parva) festivals and other occasions the Lord is taken round in procession. For the main Deity there is Tiru vanazhi prakara. In front stands the sculptured Hall, the Purushal Sukta mantapam where Vedas are chanted. It is noted for its rare architectural treasures. Shaped like a ratha (car) it is replete with carvings of figures of warriors mounted on horses and ele- phants. The forms of lotuses, of parrots and other varieties of birds are chisselled on the canopy; and on the pillars in the centre are carved the figures of the members of the family of the Nayaks who built the temple.