It finds a mention in the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. Lord Krishna is worshipped here as Parthasarathy, the charioteer of Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata. The temple, constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, has been celebrated in the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD, called the Divya Prabandha.
The procession that carries the sacred jewels of Lord Ayyappan from the Pandalam palace to the Sabarimala temple makes a customary stop at Aranmula Parthasarathy temple. The Thanka Anki, or the attire in gold adorned by Lord Ayyappan is an offering to the deity by the king of Travancore. It is taken to Sabarimala during the Mandala Kaalam or 41 days of austerity observed by pilgrims in late December. The wall paintings at the temple date back to the early 18th century. The temple is managed by Travancore Devaswom Board.
