SRI NILAMANGAI NAYIKA SAMETHA
SRI STHALASAYANA PARABRAHMANE NAMAH
This Srivaishnava Divya desam is located near the shores of Bay of Bengal. Mamallamallapuram now corrupted as Mahabalipuram is Varaha kshetram and a famous tourist centre.
The sculptures speak volumes about the contributions of Chola,Pandya , Vijayanagara kings to this place and it was an important trade center.
This holy place also glorified as Thirukadalmallai is the birth place of the great Bhoodath Azhwar which is 55kms away from Chennai and one of the 22 Thondai naadu divya desam
STHALASAYANA PERUMAL IN BHUJANGA SAYANAM(Reclining) FACING EAST
UTSAVAR ULAGU UYIYA NINDRAN
THAYAR NILAMANGAI THAYAR
THEERTHAM : PUNDRIKA PUSHKARINI, GARUDA NADHI, BAY OF BENGAL
VIMANA : PUNDARIKA
MANGALASAASANAM :
THIRUMANGAI AZHWAR(20 pasurams-1088-1107),
BHOODATH AZHWAR (7 pasurams),
THIRUMZAHISAIZHWAR( NO 861)
Legend reveals about a devotee Sage Pundarika who was on a piligrimage visiting various shrines, reached this place. He was amazed to see numerous 1000 petaled lotuses in a pond. He immediately desired to offer them to Lord Ksheerabadhrinathan lying at the milk ocean and this desire was also endorsed by asareeri( heavenly voice).
The sage was so immersed in bhakti that he started his way to Ksheerasagaram and as the ocean, Bay of Bengal was obstructing his path, he left the garland of flowers near the shore and in the divine mood , attempted to empty the ocean which was an impossible task. This is as similar to the devotion expressed by the the great Kulashekhara Azhwar who marched towards the sea to fight with the rakshasas along with Lord Rama .
Pleased with the sage’s devotion, Perumal appeared as an old Brahmin and took the audience of the sage . The sage requested the Brahmin to take care of the flowers and left to Mahabalipuram to fetch some food.
When the sage returned he was astonished to see Perumal lying on the floor on Adisesha with the garland of flowers near His Thiruvadi. The sage glorified Perumal and pleaded the Lord to continue to stay in this place and give darshan. Thus, we can see the Perumal lying on the floor and the sage seated near His Thiruvadi.The temple priests were kind to explain about the sthala puranam .Adiyen offers humble obeisances to them .
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan