Sthalasayana Perumal Temple

Sthalasayana Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams sacred to Vaishnavites and is known for the deity in a reclining posture on the ground (Sthalasayana). Built in Dravidian style with origins attributed to the Pallavas and later contributions from Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers, it is an active pilgrimage and heritage site near the Bay of Bengal.

Visitors can expect an active Dravidian-style temple complex with a gopuram, pillared mandapas, and shrines dedicated to Sthalasayana Perumal and his consort Nilamangai Thayar. The main sanctum houses Vishnu reclining on the ground. The temple is located within Mahabalipuram town, surrounded by streets and close to other Pallava monuments. Visitors can observe daily rituals, architectural details, sculptures, and a calm devotional atmosphere.

The temple is traditionally dated to the Pallava period (7th-8th century CE) with later expansions by the Cholas and Vijayanagara kings. It is mentioned in the early medieval Tamil hymns of the Alvars, particularly Thirumangai Alvar, and is classified as a Divya Desam. The architecture reflects Dravidian evolution with later additions, inscriptions and mandapas illustrating its continuous patronage.

As Thirukadalmallai, the temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams highly sacred to Sri Vaishnavism. The deity is worshipped as Sthalasayana Perumal with consort Nilamangai Thayar, and the temple tank Pundarika Pushkarani is considered sacred. It remains an active centre of Vaishnavite worship, festivals and rituals, and is part of the cultural landscape of Mamallapuram.