The 'kurukkal' or priest of the Tirukkanur temple, resides in the nearby town of Tirukaattupalli, and he commutes from Tirukkattupalli to Tirukkanur to carry out the essential rituals at the temple. For those seeking to visit the Tirukkanur temple and have darshan of the presiding deity, it is advisable to first make contact with the Kurukkal and coordinate their trip. Given the secluded location of the Tirukkanur temple, it is better that visits be undertaken during daylight hours than after sun-set. Furthermore, travelling in a group is preferable, as it provides a sense of security and companionship in navigating the remote location.

The Sem-Maeni-Nathar temple, an east-facing edifice, emerges into view with its modest three-tiered gopuram, surrounded by well-maintained walls. Upon entering the temple complex, devotees are greeted by the spacious prakaram, which houses numerous sannidhis dedicated to various deities. These include shrines for Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Muruga along with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, ArthaNareeswar, Durga, Brahma, Chandikeshwarar, Nagar, Mahavishnu, Iyanar, a guardian folk deity; Surya, the sun god; Chandra, the moon god; and the primary four nayanmars, the Shaivite saints. The inner prakaram is equally spacious, allowing for comfortable circumambulation and worship. The presiding deity of the temple, Sem-Maeni-Nathar, is represented by a swayambhu linga, a self-manifested form and He is also revered as Karumbeshwarar. The sanctum vimana, is uniquely shaped like a ball and consists of a single level. An interesting phenomenon occurs during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of the Tamil month Panguni, when the sun's rays directly fall upon the deity, illuminating the sanctum in a divine light. The temple's female deity is represented by a vigraham, a sacred idol, made from saligramam, a fossilized shell that is considered highly auspicious and sacred in Hindu tradition.