Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple (Sala Sayana Perumal), Thirusirupuliyur

Sthala Purāṇam

The Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple at Thirusirupuliyur, in Mayiladuthurai district, is a Divya Desam where Vishnu reclines as Sthalasayana Perumal, called Arulmaakadal Perumal, in Sanskrit Kripasamudra, the ocean of grace, with Thirumaamagal Nachiyar as Thayar. The central sthala puranam concerns the sage Vyaghrapada, the tiger-footed devotee counted among the great Siddhas. Shiva, wishing his devotee to attain Vaikuntha, advised Vyaghrapada to perform severe penance to propitiate Vishnu; he set out with the sage Patanjali toward Srirangam. Owing to Patanjali's failing eyesight and the sages' great age they lost their way southward and arrived at this spot, called Krupa Samudram. Because the aged sages could not behold the great form of Vishnu clearly, the Lord appeared in a small reclining form known as Bala Sayanam; this smallness joined with Vyaghrapada's tiger nature gave the place its name Sirupuliyur, the town of the small tiger. The reclining posture here, not upon the serpent Adisesha, is held to be a rare phenomenon, with the Lord facing south. The images of Vyaghrapada and the sage Kanva stand within the sanctum. The episodes are said to be recorded in the Brahmanda Purana. The shrine was sung by Thirumangai Alvar in his Periya Tirumozhi within the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, who praised the Lord as the very embodiment of boundless mercy.

Plan your visit

📍 10.99056, 79.66972

Routes, distances, hotels and restaurants open in Google Maps with live data. Build a phased pilgrimage plan →