Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #102: Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple, Thirumayam
- Sudharshan
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
சத்தியமூர்த்தி பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில், திருமயம்
Situated right beside and a bit east of the Sathyagirisvarar Sivan temple on the same south face of the Sathyagiri Hill, this Vishnu temple is equally ancient. It is a much revered temple and is a Divya Desam temple celebrated in the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham by the Tamil Vaishnava Alwar. It is part of the Thirumayam ASI site and is a protected monument of national importance.
Like the Sathyagirisvarar Sivan temple adjacent to it, this is also a cave temple. It was likely excavated at the same time. It also has early Pandiyan and Pallava origins. Utilising a naturally existing cavern on the southern face of the rock, a temple has been carved out. This has been expanded in later centuries with other external structures. Some of the earliest inscriptions here belong to the Mutharaiyar. The Mutharaiyar were minor kings who ruled these borderlands between the Pallava and Pandiyan spheres of influence and preceded the ascent of the imperial Cholas. They periodically switched alliances with the major powers. It is not clear whether the original excavation was done by Pandiyan kings or a Mutharaiyar vassal of the Pallava. The adjoining Sathyagirisvarar Sivan temple, which likely was built at the same time has inscriptions from the time of Pallavan Mahendravarman I in the early 7th century. The oldest inscription here is attributed to Perumbidugu-Perundevi, wife of the first known Mutharaiyar king Sattan, and mother of his son Sattan Maran who were feudatories of the great Pallava emperor Pallavamalla Nandivarman II (CE 731-795). It is found on a slab or balustrade between the two cave temples. It appears to be from the first half of the 8th century. The temple has been renovated by Chola, Later Pandya, Hoysala, Vijayanagar and Nayakkan kings, Suraikudi Chieftains as well as the Sethupathi and Thondaiman rulers. There are about 30 inscriptions in total here and describe contributions from the time of Rajaraja Cholan I, Maravarman Sundarapandiyan II, Jatavarman Veerapandian II, Jatavarman Veerapandian III, Jatavarman Parakramapandiyan, Maravarman Kulasekarapandiyan I and Vijayanagar kings Virupaksha I and Krishnadevaraya.
The presiding deity, Lord Vishnu, appears in two forms in two sanctums here. One is Lord Vishnu in a reclining or Ananthasayana posture. He is known as the Pallikonda Perumal or Thirumeyyar. He lies in a bed made of the coils of Adisesha. It is a large idol carved out of the wall of the cave and the Lord lies with his head to the west and feet to the east. The reclining idol of Lord Vishnu is one of the largest idols of its kind in India and is quite impressive. The shrine faces south. There are a number of smaller figures from stories and legends from the puranas, also beautifully carved here. There is another sanctum for Lord Vishnu here, where he is called Sathyamurthy. It is an east facing shrine with a beautiful vimanam. The consort Uyyavantha Thayar has her own east facing shrine. There are also a number of sub shrines for various deities. The temple complex is entered through an elaborately carved 5 tier rajagopuram The long mandapam that you enter after passing the the rajagopuram has ornate pillars with beautiful carvings and most are from the Nayakkan period.
The sthalavirutcham or temple tree is the Banyan tree. The theertham is known as the Sathyapushkarani and is situated just to the east of the temple. It is an elaborate octagonal tank of ancient origin. It was renovated in 1919 by Ramanathan Chettiar of Karaikudi. The 10 day festivals of Vaikasi Poornima in May/June and Adi Pooram in July/August are the main celebrations that draw thousands of devotees.
Legend says that Adisesha once acted on his own to destroy some evil demons without the Lord's permission and sought repentance here. The Lord not only forgave Adisesha but appreciated him. The hood of Adisesha is subdued here for that reason. The sage Sathyamaharishi is said to have worshipped here.
The temple is celebrated in the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham and is thus a Divya Desam temple. Thirumangai Alwar in his mangalasasanam from the 8th century says:
மையார் கடலும் மணிவரையும் மாமுகிலும்,
கொய்யார் குவளையும் காயாவும் போன்றிருண்ட
மெய்யானை, மெய்ய மலையானைச் சங்கேந்தும்
கையானை, கைதொழா கையல்ல கண்டாமே.
(Like the dark and inky sea, and a jewel- studded mountain, like a deep dark cloud, and the beautiful water lily and the ironwood flower, the dark Lord Meyyan resides on the hill of Thirumeyyam holding his conch high. Hands that do not worship this Lord are not hands at all)
The temple is located 100 km or 1.5 hours northeast of Madurai, about the same distance and time south of Thiruchirapalli and is close to Pudukkottai. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Kanadukathan.
Sources:
Dinamalar Temples - Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple
Thirumayam - The Land of Truth - Saurabh Saxena, Puratattva.in
Nalaayira Divya Prabandham
Courtesy Google Maps
Comments