The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.
மாமல்லபுரம் தலசயனப் பெருமாள் கோயில்
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu · 12.6175°, 80.1933°
The Divya Desam of the UNESCO World Heritage port town of Mahabalipuram, where Vishnu reclines directly on the bare ground rather than on his serpent. Founded under the Pallavas, it was moved to its present site in the 14th century by the Vijayanagara king Parankusa.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
Vishnu is said to have chosen to recline on the bare earth here so that the sage Pundarika's interrupted flower-worship would not go in vain.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Vijayanagara
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…