Thirukadalmallai Divyadesam Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple in Mahabalipuram, the heritage town which is located around 55 K.M. from Chennai. It’s a birth place of Boothathalwar, an incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu’s Mace. Moolavar is being worshipped as Sthala Sayana Perumal. Unlike other temples, Thayar is blessing as Nilamangai Nachiyar, sitting on the bare floor where as She usually blessing devotees by Sitting on Lotus. Nilamangai means Lady of the land. Nilam means Land and Mangai means Woman.

Thirukadalmallai Divyadesam - Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple - The History

Among 108 Divyadesams, Almighty is blessing in His Sayana Posture ( Reclining Posture ) in 27 Divyadesams out of which in 26 Divyadesams He is reclining on Adiseshan - the five headed snake. This is the one and only divyadsam where He is reclining on the bare floor, hence He is being worshipped as Sthala Sayana Perumal. Sthalam means the Floor, that too with His Four Hands but surprisingly Without Conch and Discus. Both of His Front Hands Rest on the Floor pointing towards His Feet where as His Right Rear Arm Holds His Head as a Pillow and Left Rear Hand in a Raising Posture.

Once a sage named Pundareeha Mahirishi saw some lotus flowers with 1000 petals. He wanted to adorn them to Paranthaman in Thiruparkadal. He started to collect the Lotuses from the tank. At that time a Crocodile came to hit him. Mahirishi looked the crocodile with kind and immediately the Crocodile transformed into a man. He told Rishi that once he was a king and an adherent devotee of Lord Maha Vishnu. One Day he was refused to offer rice to a brahmin and due to his curse he became a crocodile and now got rid of the curse due to the kind look of Pundareehar. He thanked the rishi and went off. Somehow Pundarehar collected some Lotus Flowers with over 1000 petals and started to drain the sea so that to reach Thiruparkadal. At that time an old man came there and asked the sage for some food. Pundareehar wanted to offer him some food but at the same time he did not want to stop his work of emptying the sea. By knowing this the old man assured the sage that he would do his work till the sage return with food for him. Agreed sage went to get some food for the old man. When he returned, to a big surprise, he saw that old man lying on the floor wearing the lotus flowers on his neck as a garland. Mahiishi came to know that he is none other than the Almighty. At last Paranthaman gave him His Prathyaksham in Sayana Posture on the Floor without His Conch and Discus for His adherent devotee who tried to worship Him as Ksheerabthinathan Of Thiruparkadal. Hence He is also being worshipped as “Artha Sethu”. Pundareeha Mahirishi is also there in the sanctum sanctorum with the folded hands at the feet of the Almighty.