Historical evidence and stone inscriptions date the temple's construction to the era of the Vemulawada Chalukyas (between 750 to 973 CE), specifically built by King Raja Raditya. The town itself was the capital of this dynasty, serving as a flourishing major center for both Jainism and Shaivism in ancient times.

Chalukyan Majesty and the Dharma Gundam

The temple is a beautiful specimen of Chalukyan architecture, featuring an intricately carved Rajagopuram and expansive stone mandapams. Upon entering the complex, devotees first encounter the Dharma Gundam (holy tank). The water here is believed to possess miraculous medicinal properties. The architecture also embraces a completely unique syncretic layout, permanently accommodating the Dargah of a Muslim saint right alongside the Hindu shrines within the same compound walls.

According to the Bhavishya Purana, the Sun God (Surya) prayed at this exact spot to cure himself of a debilitating curse. The Lingam here is revered as the 'Neela Lohitha Shiva Lingam'. Another powerful legend states that Lord Indra cleansed himself of the ultimate sin of Brahmahatya (incurred by killing the demon Vritrasura) by bathing in the temple's holy tank, the Dharma Gundam.

The most iconic and defining ritual of Vemulawada is the 'Kode Mokku' (Tying the Ox). Devotees who have their wishes fulfilled bring a live ox (Kode) and tie it to a designated tree within the temple complex, later donating it to the temple's massive goshala. Additionally, it is a living tradition for many Hindu devotees to offer prayers at the Dargah of Syed Viquaruddin inside the complex before proceeding to the Shiva Lingam.

Local folklore deeply reveres the Muslim saint, Syed Viquaruddin, whose Dargah is inside the temple. It is said that the saint was an ardent, mystical devotee of Lord Rajanna and lived his entire life in the temple premises. Because of his pure devotion, folklore dictates that Lord Shiva decreed that prayers offered to Him would be incomplete unless the devotee also paid respects to the saint. Thus, the offering of dhoop (incense) and loban at the Dargah by Hindu priests and devotees continues every single day without fail.

Maha Shivaratri is the absolute zenith of the temple's calendar, drawing lakhs of pilgrims. A highly unique, centuries-old tradition during Shivaratri is the 'Shiva Kalyanam' (celestial wedding), where hundreds of transgender devotees (Joginis) and members of the Shivakula community arrive dressed as brides to symbolically 'marry' Lord Shiva. Sri Rama Navami is also celebrated with tremendous grandeur.