Sthalasayana Perumal Temple (also called Thirukadalmallai) is at Mahabalipuram. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Sthalasayana Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Nilamangai Thayar. The temple is believed to have been built by Pallavas, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks.
The temple is believed to be the birthplace of the Vaishnava Azhwar saint Bhoothathalvar. Sthalasayana Perumal is believed to have appeared to sage Pundarika. The temple is open from 6 am to 12 pm and 3pm to 8:30 pm. Six daily rituals and a dozen yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Bhoothatazhwar Avata festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Aipasi (October–November) being the most prominent.
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, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.Architecture
The entrance of the temple
The temple is located in Mahabalipuram, a historic town on the outskirts of Chennai. The temple is located close to Arjuna's Penance,[9] the most famous landmark of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. The temple is also believed to be the birthplace of Bhoothathazhwar, the 2nd Azhwar, the poet saints of 7th-9th centuries. The temple has a seven tiered rajagopuram built during 15-16th century. The granite base of the entrance is studded with sculptures.
There are two precincts inside the temple with the sanctum is located axial to the main gate and approached through a Dwajasthambam, bali peetam (sacrificial altar), Deepa Stambam (altar for lamps) and Garuda Mandapam.
The sanctum houses the image of Sthalasayana Perumal, the presiding deity, in reclining posture. The image is sported with Ahvahanahasta, which indicates beckoning devotees to him. The image of Pundarika Maharishi is seen in standing posture. The processional deity, namely Ulaguyyaninran, sported with four arms, is housed in the sanctum. There is an east facing shrine to the right of sanctum for Lakshmi, the consort of Perumal, in the form of Nilamangai Thayar.
There are shrines for Andal, Lakshmi Narasimha, Bhuthathazhwar, Rama and Azhwars in the first precinct around the sanctum. There is a shrine for Hanuman opposite to the shrine of Rama. There is a four pillared hall, with sculpted pillars in front of the temple, was designed for Dolotsavam (swing festival). The temple tank is located outside the temple and is called Pundarika Pushkarani. It has a small pillared mandapa in its centre.