Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple,
Thirumayyam – History
This cave temple might have been excavated by the
Pandyas in the 7th century CE. The temple had been extensively
renovated by the Pandyas, Mutharaiyars, Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas,
Vijayanagara Kingdom, Nayakkar Kings, Suraikudi Chieftains, Sethupathis and
Thondaimans. The present form of the temple was taken
during Vijayanagara rule when they constructed various separate
shrines and gopurams. There are about thirty inscriptions found in this cave temple.
Inscriptions dating back to Mutharaiyar King Sattan
Maran, Chola Emperor Rajaraja Chola I, Pandyan Kings Maravarman Sundara Pandyan
II, Jatavarman Veera Pandyan II, Jatavarman Veera Pandyan III, Jatavarman
Parakrama Pandyan & Veerapandya and Vijayanagara Kings Virupaksha Raya I,
& Krishnadevaraya found in the temple premises. There is an inscription
found on a slab (balustrade) lying between the two cave temples in the western
prakara of the central shrine of Sathyamoorthy Perumal.
The slab was part of the parapet of the steps leading
to the Vishnu cave temple. This inscription is the oldest inscription found in
this temple. This inscription records the renovation of the temple by Perumbidugu
Perundevi, mother of Sattan Maran. It further records the gift of lands in
Andakuddi, including the cultivation and proprietorship rights to the central
shrine of the temple. Sattan Maran was also called Videlvidugu Viluperadi
Araiyan. Sattan Maran was a contemporary and vassal of Pallava
king Nandivarman II (731 – 796 CE).
There is an inscription dating back to the reign of
Chola Emperor Rajaraja Chola I on a rock found on the left side of the cave temple. This inscription records the gift of land made to this temple for the
food offerings to the Lord. This inscription records the name of the deity as
Kidanthapiran. An inscription of Pandyan King Maravarman Sundara Pandya II
(1245 CE) of the adjacent Shiva temple records the settlement of long-standing
dispute regarding the sharing of property between the Shiva and the Vishnu
temples.
This settlement meeting was held in the presence of
the Shaivites, Vaishnavites, village assembly and the officials. This meeting
was presided over by Appanna Dandanayaka, the brother-in-law of Ravideva
Dandanayaka who was one of the Dandanayaka of Hoysala King Veera Somesvara. It
was resolved that 3/5 portion of the share was given to Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple.
An inscription dating back to the 22nd
regnal year of Pandyan Emperor Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I (1268 – 1308 CE)
found on the western wall of the temple records a gift of land made to this temple. Another inscription dating back to the 26th regnal year of
Pandyan Emperor Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I (1268 – 1308 CE) found on the
western wall of the temple records a gift of land made to this temple.
This inscription records the name of the presiding
deity as Kandi Deva Vinnagar Emberuman. An inscription of 1399 CE dating back
to the reign Vijayanagara King Virupaksha Raya I records the installation of
new Vishnu idol in the temple. Inscriptions found after 12th century
CE records the history of the Pushkarini. The octagonal pond of this temple is
mentioned as Sathya Pushkarini in the inscriptions.
Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture of this temple
was mentioned as Kidanthapiran, Pallikondarulina Azhwar and Kanmalarntharulina Emperuman
in the inscriptions. Sathyamurthy Perumal is mentioned as Ninrarulina Vishnu Bhattaragar,
Ninrarulina Thevar, Meyyaththu Malaialar, and Azhagiya Meyyar in the
inscriptions. The name Satyamurti might have been popular after Lord
was referred by Thirumangai Alvar as Thiru Meyyamalaiyalan which
translates to the Lord of Truth which is same as the translation
of Sanskrit word Satyamurti. It is very probable that this
name, Satyamurti, came into existence during
the Vijayanagara rule.
