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 Sthala Sayana Perumal temple also
called as Thirukadalmallai temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu is
a Dravidian style architecture. It is one of the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam
and located at Mamallapuram 60 Kms from the City of Chennai. Presiding deities are
Sthala Sayana Perumal and Nilamangai Thayar. It is the birth place
of Boothathazhvar, the second of the 12 Alwars of Vaishnavism.
This temple is a part of the 32 monuments of Mahabalipuram, maintained by the Hindu
Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of TamilNadu. Thirumangai Azhwar
and Boothathazhvar sanctifies this temple in the Nalayira Divyaprabandam
through their hymns. Thirumangai Azhwar considers the reclining form of Vishnu special
as it is the only place where Lord Vishnu reclines on the ground instead of the
customary Adiseshan and Tiruparkadal [ocean of milk].
Shrine of Lord Narasimha and Adivaraha are located near the sea shore. Lord is known
as“Valvendai Gnanapiran”. It is believed that there were originally
seven temples here. Only one stood against the ferocious sea. 14th century Vijayanagara
King Parankusan shifted the temple to the present location away from
the shore to prevent the Sea assault and also formed Four Mada Veedhi [Streets]
around the temple.
The Ustavar [festival deity] is with
a lotus bud in the hand, while the presiding deity
displays the Gnana Mudra. The Festival Deity called ‘Ulagu Uyya Nindra
Piran” with his consorts; Valavendai Gnanapiran or Adivaraha and also Sri Rama
from the Padavedu temple take procession to the sea for the Theertha
Vari [Divine Bathing] during the Masi Makam festival. Boothathazhvar avatara
festival is also an important festival of this temple.
The legend goes thus : Rishi [Sage] Pundarika was once on a penance
with 1008 Tamarai [Lotus] flowers to have darshan of Lord Vishnu in his customary
recline posture on Adiseshan as Ksheerabdhi Nathan in Thiruparkadal [ Ocean
of Milk]. He started the impossible task of emptying the water of the
sea. Lord Vishnu appears as an old person and asks the sage for food to eat. Sage
goes to fetch food for the old man keeping the Lotus Flowers in the custody of the
old man. On his return he finds Lord Vishnu in recline posture, with the garland
of the lotus he had entrusted to the old man, on the floor , in an unusual from
instead of Adi Sesha Peetam. Since he stood there in that place he is called as
the Sthala Sayana Perumal.
Contact : 2743245 for details at Sthala Sayana Perumal
temple.
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