01Pundarika and the sea
The sage Pundarika gathered a thousand and eight lotuses to offer to the Lord of the Milk Ocean, and when the sea stood between him and that Lord he began to bail it out with his hands. An old man came and asked for food. The sage went to fetch it, and when he came back the old man was lying on the ground in his place, and was Vishnu. Sthala-sayana means lying on the ground. Bhoothath Alvar sang this katha, and the temple keeps Pundarika’s tank.
02From the shore to the town
The Alvars knew Kadalmallai as a shore shrine; the Shore Temple, with its Vishnu lying between two Shiva shrines, is held to be the old seat. In the 14th century, under Vijayanagara rule, a chief named Parankusa built the present temple inland and laid out the four streets around it. Chola, Vijayanagara and Nayaka grants are cut on the walls. Thirumangai Alvar sang two decads here and Bhoothath Alvar one verse; twenty-seven pasurams are counted. The temple belongs to the World Heritage group of Mamallapuram but is a living shrine under the HR&CE.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodBhoothath Alvar, born at Kadalmallai, sings its Lord; Thirumangai Alvar later sings two decads.
- 14th centuryParankusa builds the present temple away from the shore under Vijayanagara rule.
In the town centre, a few steps from Arjuna’s Penance. Bhoothath Alvar’s day falls in Aippasi under the Avittam star.
