Early medieval · Hindu · India

Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple

Thirumayam, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu · 10.2449°, 78.7464°

Sathyamurthi Perumal (Vishnu), with Ujeevana ThayarPallavaDravidian (rock-cut)Divya Desam

Sacred since

800 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

9th c. (Pallava)

Pallava

History & significance

A 9th-century Pallava rock-cut shrine counted among the 108 Divya Desams, today protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. It houses one of the largest reclining (Anantasayana) Vishnu images in India.

Sthala katha — the legend

The Brahmanda Purana tells that the sage Satya won a boon here that Vishnu would appear whenever wished, and a king was directed to raise the temple.

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