Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple,
Mamallapuram – History
References to modern day Mahabalipuram as a busy port is
available in the works of Ptolemy from AD 140. There are many
references to the place from Sangam
Literature from third century AD. This temple has been referred
to in the Sangam period Tamil work Pathupattu. The temple is believed to have
been built by Pallavas, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas,
Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks.
The temple is referred to in the old text, Divya
Prabandha. This text is the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints
from the 6th–9th centuries AD. This town is also believed to be the
birthplace of Bhoothatazhwar, the 2nd Azhwar. The temple is referred
in the works of seventh century works of Bhoothath
Azhwar and eighth century works of Thirumangai Azhwar.
The port city came to prominence during the reign
of Pallava
kings Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimha
Varman I after whom the city is named. The city was a famous
port city during the reign of Medieval
Cholas from the 9th century. The inscriptions
from Shore Temple indicates grant of
2000 kulis of land to the temple during the reign of Rajendra
I during the 11 century. There are similar inscriptions
from Varaha Cave Temple about grant of
lands during the same reign.
The temple also had expansions by Chola king Vikrama
Chola (1118-35 CE) during 1120 CE. The earliest
inscription from the temple is from the reign of Vikrama
Chola (1118–1135 AD), but the inscription is damaged. Another
inscription made during the reign of Kulothunga II (1133–1150
AD) indicates gift to meet the expenses towards recitation of Thirupalli
Ezhuchi in the temple.
There are inscriptions from Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar,
the feudatory of Cholas. The inscriptions from Telugu Choda dynasty during 1252
AD mentions gifts to Brahmanas for the perpetual lighting of the temple. The
inscription made during the reign of Pandyas during
1288 AD indicates gift for the feeding house of the temple.
As there were seven temples here, the place was then
called Seven Temple City – Ezhu Kovil Nagaram in Tamil. All of them were
swallowed by the fury of sea. Pallava king Rajasimha built three temples then
of which two were prey to sea fury again. The remaining one is the present Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple. This is also under the attack of sea waves.
Observing a possible future calamity during the 14th
century, the Vijayanagar king Parankusa shifted the
temple to its current location away from the shore. He is believed to have
built the four Mada streets around the temple. The Shore Temple located on the shore is believed to be the original
shrine housing two images of Shiva on either side of the image of
Vishnu. There are many land grants made during the rule of the Vijayanagar
kings.
The Telugu rulers of Chandragiri have provided for the
construction of this temple. The northern wall has inscriptions of Thirumala Nayakkar
giving grants of lands in Kunnathur village to the temple. There are various
other inscriptions indicating grants to the temple from various villages. This temple underwent renovation in the 19th century.
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 (ASI),
the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment
Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
ASI had a proposal to bring the maintenance of the temple under its
jurisdiction in July 2012. Following widespread protest by locals and
shopkeepers the proposal was dropped by the central ministry of Culture in
September 2013.
