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{{Short description|Perumal temple in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple
| image = Thirumayam5.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|10.246945|78.751996|type:landmark_region:IN-TN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Pudukottai district|pudukottai]]
| location = Tamil Nadu, India
| elevation_m =
| deity = {{Plainlist|
* Sathyamurthy Perumal ([[Vishnu]])
* Ujeevana Thayar ([[Lakshmi]])
}}
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank =
| tower =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]], [[rock-cut architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple''' in [[Thirumayam]], a panchayat town in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desams]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Sathyamurthi Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Ujeevana Thayar.<ref>{{cite book|title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu|last= M. S. |first=Ramesh|publisher= Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam|year=1993}}</ref>

The temple is believed to have been built during the 9th century by the [[Pallavas]]. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered raja[[gopuram]], the gateway tower and is behind a fort built during the 15th century. [[Pushkarni|The temple tank]] is located inside the premises.

The temple is maintained and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] as a protected monument. The temple follows the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the car festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Vaikasi'' (April - May), [[Krishna Jayanti]] during ''Avani'' (August - September) and Adi Puram during July - August being the most prominent.

==Legend==
The ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'' mentions the legend included in the temple's [[Sthala purana|regional legend]]. Once, [[Adisesha|Adishesha]], the serpent-mount of [[Vishnu]], wanted to convert his [[Guṇa|guna]] (quality) from ''tamas'' (darkness) to ''satvik'' (purity). He performed a penance at this place via the [[Patala|netherworld]] in a path, which went on to become the river Pamapar. Vishnu appeared to him in the form of [[Hayagriva]] and granted him a boon. [[Chandra]] also performed penance at this place. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and appeared to him in the form of [[Vamana]].<ref name=R/>

As per another legend, a sage named Satya performed penance at this place. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu granted him a boon that he would appear to the sage whenever he wished. The sage had no wish to move away from river where he was performing the penance. Vishnu converted the river to a Pushkarani, the rock to Meyyam hill and banyan tree to Asvatta tree. The sage performed penance again and wished salvation. Vishnu told him that he would attain salvation at the same time as king Pururava. Vishnu appeared in the form of a boar and created havoc in the kingdom of Pururava. The king chased the boar to the forest where the sage was performing penance. The sage was disturbed and opened the eyes, while the king saw the boar disappeared. Vishnu appeared to grant a vision to both of them. He granted salvation to the sage and directed the king to build a temple at this place, which went on to become the Satyamurthi Perumal temple.<ref name=R/>

==History==
Historians believe that the temple was built during the 9th century CE by the [[Pallavas]]. M.A. Dhaky places the period to be the seventh decade of the 9th century CE. He has also compared the images of the temple to that of [[Vijayalaya Choleeswaram]] in [[Narthamalai]], built by [[Muthuraja|Muttaraiyar]] kings during the same period.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Cave I at Nārttamalai: A Reappraisal|jstor= 3249518|last=Schwindler|first=Gary J.|journal= Artibus Asiae|volume=41|issue=2/3|year=1979|publisher=Artibus Asiae Publishers|pages=241–42|doi= 10.2307/3249518}}</ref> Another view is that the temple to have been built by a vassal of [[Pallavas]] following the [[Rock-cut architecture]] of [[Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram]] built by [[Mahendravarman I]] (590-630 CE) and his son [[Narasimhavarman I]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Lord of Vengadam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rntPBAAAQBAJ&q=sathyamurthy+temple&pg=PA34|page=33|last=S.R.|first=Ramanujan|publisher=PartridgeIndia|year=2014|isbn=9781482834628}}</ref> An inscription in the temple indicates contributions to the temple by Perumbidugu Perumdevi, mother of Sattan Maran, a contemporary and vassal of Pallava king [[Nandivarman II]] (731-796 CE).<ref name=CPRE>{{cite web|title=Thirumayam Rockcut temples|url=http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/ThirumayamRockCutTemples_2925.aspx|publisher=CPR Environment Education centre, Chennai|date=2019|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>

The fort, the [[Shiva]] and Vishnu temples are the tourist attractions. The fort played an important role in the history of [[Thondaiman]] rulers of [[Pudukottai]] and the British. The 40-acre fort was built by Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi of [[Ramanathapuram]] in 1687 CE. On the hill, there is a rock-cut Shiva temple with inscriptions on music. There are relics of another fort. At the foot of the hill are the Shiva and Vishnu temples. It was in this fort that the brother of [[Kattabomman]], Oomathurai was ensnared and imprisoned. An old armor used by him is exhibited here.<ref>''Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu''</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Thirumayam1.jpg|250px|left|thumb|The Temple tank of Thirumayam temple]]
The temple is located in [[Thirumayam]], a village in the [[Madurai]] - [[Pudukottai]] road, {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} from the temple. The presiding deity is called Sathyamurthi Perumal. The temple is old and large, and striking in appearance. The main statue of Sathyamurthi Perumal approximately seven feet in height, is standing on a rock, along with his wives. In the next [[Sannidhanam]] (sanctum), [[Mahavishnu]]'s sculpture is in sleeping position, called {{Transliteration|ta|ari thuyil}} in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], sleeping with a sense of knowing what is going on at present. Sculptures of Mahavishnu in this position can be viewed in many temples, although this is one of the largest examples. There are many other ''sannidhis'' in the temple. All the statues are sculptured beautifully.<ref>''108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams (Vol. 4''.Ramesh, M. S. (1996))</ref> It is this, the reclining form of Vishnu christened Azhagiya Neyyar (the Deity who enchants all his devotees with his beauty), that is also the largest sculpture of Anantasayi (Vishnu in reclining pose) in India. It is a natural cavern which has been rockcut to have various images. The hall preceding the sanctum, the ''Ardha mandapa'' is rectangular in shape, similar to the sanctum. The wall behind the presiding deity has images of [[Garuda]], [[Chitragupta]], [[Markandeya]], [[Brahma]], the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s, the [[vasu]]s, and the [[kinnara]]s.<ref name=CPRE/>

The temple is adjacent to the Sathyagiriswara Sivan temple, located in the same complex. The temple is maintained and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] as a ticketed monument.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|access-date=2013-09-09|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=List of ticketed monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_tn.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|access-date=2013-09-09|year=2011}}</ref>

==Religious significance, Religious practices and festival==
[[File:Thirumayam seen from fort.JPG|250px|thumb|The view of the temple as seen from [[Thirumayam Fort]]]]
Sathyamurthi Perumal temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabhandam]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Thirumangai Azhwar|Thirumangai Alvar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like ''108 Tirupathi Anthathi'' by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.<ref name=dinamalar/> The image of the reclining deity is bigger than the Ranganatha image in [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Srirangam temple]]. The [[Adisesha|Adishesha]] in the temple is believed to as a protecting force. Once it emanated fumes on the attacking [[asura]]s who wanted to destroy it. Following the legend, the image is sculpted in such a way showing flames emanating from it.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=537–9}}</ref>

The temple follows the traditions of the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] sect of the Vaishnava tradition and follows [[Vaikhanasa|vaikhānasāgama]]. In modern times, the temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavaite]] community, from the Brahmin class. Four daily rituals are performed at various times of the day and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the car festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Vaikasi'' (April - May), [[Krishna Jayanti]] during ''Avani'' (August - September) and Adi Puram during July - August being the most prominent. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite news|title=Sathyamurthi Perumal temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=411|newspaper=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|20em}}

==External links==
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}
{{Hindu temples in Pudukkottai district}}
{{commons}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Pudukkottai district]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Rock-cut architecture of India]]

Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple, Thirumayam - Revision history

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