Pages

Monday, September 30, 2019

Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple, Mamallapuram – History

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.