Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1122 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Sthalasayana Perumal Temple (Thirukadalmallai)

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu · 12.6175°, 80.1933°

Sthalasayana PerumalVijayanagaraPallava (Dravidian)Divya Desam
Sacred since
1300 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
rebuilt 14th c. (Vijayanagara); Pallava origin
Vijayanagara

History & significance

The Divya Desam of the UNESCO World Heritage port town of Mahabalipuram, where Vishnu reclines directly on the bare ground rather than on his serpent. Founded under the Pallavas, it was moved to its present site in the 14th century by the Vijayanagara king Parankusa.

Sthala katha — the legend

Vishnu is said to have chosen to recline on the bare earth here so that the sage Pundarika's interrupted flower-worship would not go in vain.

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Related sites

Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli · India
built up 10th–17th c.; Rajagopuram 1987
Ekambareswarar Temple
Kanchipuram · India
Chola core; Vijayanagara gopuram 1509
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Mylapore, Chennai · India
16th c. (original 7th-c. shore shrine lost)
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Thiruvananthapuram · India
rebuilt 1730s; shrine far older
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Hampi · India
7th-c. origins; major Vijayanagara expansion
Vittala Temple, Hampi
Hampi · India
15th–16th c.

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Vijayanagara