Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple is among the 108 divya desams (Vaishnava temples) and is a part of the tondai naadu divyadesams. Tondai Nadu, is a historical region located in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh and northernmost part of Tamil Nadu. Bhagwan Vishnu in this temple located in Mahabalipuram is known by the name Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal. He is found in Bhujanga Sayanam (sleeping posture) and facing towards East direction towards the sea.

Unlike other Vaishnava temples where Sri Vishnu in sleeping posture is found resting on the serpent Adisesha, the uniqueness at this temple is the Bhagwan‘s sleeping posture is on the bare floor without Adisesha. Pundareeka rishi can be seen sitting at Bhagwan’s feet in the temple. This place is identified as the Avathara Sthalam of Bhoothath alvar, considered to be the second in the list of the three principal Alvars, the other two being Poigai Alvar and Pey Alvar, out of the total 12 Alvars. This temple is full of Artistic work and is also called as “Artha Sethu”.

This place, Thirukadalmallai is popularly known by the name “Mahabalipuram” and “Mamallapuram”. The main deity in this temple is known as Thiru Vala Vendhai Varaha Moorthy. Maa Lakshmi in this temple is also found sitting on the floor like her consort Sri Vishnu. She is known by the name Nilamangai Thayar. There are separate shrines in this temple for Sri Narasimha, Rama and Hanuman. The procession deity (Utsavamurthy) has His hand on His chest, indicating a teaching posture.

There is a temple tank by the name Pundareeka pushkarni, which has a small pillared mandapa in its centre.

Legend

Once the Sage Pundareeka was performing penance at Mahabalipuram.  He saw lotus flowers in a tank nearby and picked up those flowers to place them at the feet of Sri Vishnu in the Milk Ocean (Tiruparkadal/ Ksheer Sagar). While proceeding to Tiruparkadal Pundareeka rushi faced obstruction from the sea in his journey.  To overcome this obstruction, he began to remove the water and dry the sea. This went on day and night for several years but in vain. Finally tired, he cried “Oh Lord Parandhama, if I am your true devotee, let the sea dry and make way for me and till such time I reach you these flowers should not fade off.” 

His mind was completely set on Bhagwan and Sri Vishnu appeared before him as an aged man. The old man asked the sage to get him food as he was hungry.  He also advised him to stop his impossible task and do something worthwhile.  The sage asked the old man to hold his flower basket and wait till he brought food for him saying that he was determined to see Sri Vishnu in Tiruparkadal, place the flowers at his feet and would not rest till then. When the sage returned with the food for the old man, he found Sri Vishnu wore all the flowers on his body and was in his reclining posture.  The sage sought God’s pardon for making him carry the flower basket and begged to allow him to stay at his feet.

As Bhagwan gave darshan in his reclining position, he is praised as Sthala Sayana (reclining) Perumal. Pundareeka Maharishi is also there in the sanctum sanctorum with the folded hands at the feet of the ALMIGHTY. The temple is believed to be built by the Pallavas and later renovated by rulers like the medieval Cholas, the Kings of Vijayanagara and the Madurai Nayaks. The earliest inscription from the temple is from the reign of  Vikrama Chola  (1118–1135 CE), but the inscription is damaged. During the 14th century, the  Vijayanagara king  Parankusa shifted the temple to its current location away from the sea shore.

Festivals

Vaikunda (Vaikuntha) Ekadasi is celebrated in the temple in a grand manner. Birth anniversary of Bhoothath Alvar is celebrated every year during the months of October – November. The temple adheres to the traditions of the Vadakalai  sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows the Vaikhanasa Agama. Agamas are the secondary scriptures of the Hindu religion more closely connected with rituals and temple traditions. There are three main branches of the āgamas- Saivagamas, Saktagamas and Vaishnavagamas. Vaishanavagamas are in turn split into two- Pancharatra agamas and Vaikhanasa agamas.

UN World heritage site

Those travelling to Mahabalipuram to see monuments can also visit this temple, which is just opposite Arjuna ‘s penance, near to Mahabalipuram bus stand. Currently major renovation works are going on in the temple. The temple is one of the 32 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram  that are declared as UN world heritage sites. But unlike others that are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.