Mamallapuram was a seashore city even before 2000 years ago.  Sculptures of Pallava period adore the city.  The Vimana – tower above the sanctum sanctorum – is of Kanakakruthi style.  Sage Pundareeka had the darshan of Lord in this place.

Majority of the devotees pray for the removal of obstacles in their wedding proposals.

The place has the reputation of being the birth place of Saint Boodhathazhwar enriching the Vaishnava Nalayira Divya Prapandham literature with his hymns.  This is one of the celebrated 108 Divyadesas of Lord Perumal.  Procession deity appears with a lotus bud in His hand as if offering it at the feet of Lord.

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 Rajasimhan built three temples then of which two were prey to sea fury again.  The remaining one is the present Lord Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal temple.  This is also under the attack of sea waves.  Observing a possible future calamity, Vijaya Nagar king Parangusa built a temple within the city of Mamallapuram in the 14^th century and installed Perumal.  All pujas are dedicated to this Perumal only now.  Perumal in His teaching posture, is holding His Hand on the chest, called Upadesa Mudra.  It is the belief of the devotees that worshipping Sthala Sayana Perumal means worshipping Perumal in His Vaikundam itself directly.

Mamallapuram sea region was once dense with forests.  Sage Pundareeka was performing penance here.  He saw lotus flowers in a tank nearby and wanted them to be placed at the feet of Lord Narayana in the Milk Ocean-Tiruparkadal.  Picking up the flowers, he proceeded to Tiruparkadal but the sea obstructed his march.  To make way, he began to dry the sea by removing the water day and night.  This went on for years.  Tired, he cried “Oh Lord Parandhama, if I am your true devotee, let the sea dry and make way for me and till such time I reach you these flowers should not fade off.”  His mind was completely set on Lord.  Perumal appeared before him as an aged man.

The old man asked the sage to get him food as he was hungry.  He also advised him to stop his impossible task and do something worthwhile.  The sage asked the old man to hold his flower basket and wait till he brought food for him saying that he was determined to see Perumal in Tiruparkadal, place the flowers at His feet  and would not rest till then.  The sage went to bring food for the old man.  Before he returned, Perumal wore all the flowers on His Thirumeni – body – and was in his reclining posture.  It was a pleasant shock for the sage to see his Lord and begged His pardon for making Him carry the flower basket and also begged to allow him at His feet.

As Lord gave darshan in His reclining position, He is praised as Sthala Sayana (reclining) Perumal.