Media Eye News Bureau: Going to Kanyakumari always offers a peace of mind and freshness. But when you go to this holy palce keeping in mind the marvelous history, it will be a different experience. Chitra Muraleedharan reveals the history attached with the Suchindram temple, situating in Kanyakumari district.
Kanyakumari is a coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu on India’s southern tip. Suchindram is a panchayat town in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The temple has a 134 feet entrance tower with 24 feet beautifully carved door. The tower is carved with sculptures and status from Hindu Mythology.
There are many legends associated with it. One of them is about Anasuya the wife of Atri Maharshi.
Anasuya was well known for her devotion towards her husband. She had the power of performing miracles with the water with which she washed her husband’s feet – “Paatha Theertham’. It was then the three Devis : Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswathy and Parvathy came to know about the miracles of Anasuya and her chastity. They approached their husbands Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to test Anasuya’s devotion to her husband.
The tri-moorthys set to meet Anasuya in the form of beggars and seeks alms. As she was about to serve foods they inform her that they had taken a vow of accepting alms only from hands of a naked person. She then sprinkles Paatha Theertham and turns them into babies. She then removes her clothes and offers then food.
On learning what happened at Anasuya’s heritage, Goddesses run to Anasuya and plead her to return their husbands to their original form. Thus the babies are again transformed to Tri- moorthys.
The lingam at Suchindram thus represents the tri-moorthys from bottom Brahma, middle Vishnu and top Shiva.
Another story is where Indira was charmed by the beauty of Ahalya, the wife of Rishi Gautama.
Indira tricks Rishi Gautama to think that its dawn thus making him leave the heritage for prayers. Taking this opportunity Indira approaches Ahalya by transposing himself as Rishi and fulfill his desire. Rishi returns back realising that there is more time to dawn only to see his wife with another man.
Rishi curses Indira for his lust that he be covered with linga all over his body and curses his wife Ahalya to turn into a stone. Lord Indira prays to tri-moorthys and thus attains relief from Rishis curse and thus the builds Linga to represent them which is later known as Suchi-Indira.
The temple is rich in sculptural art. There is ‘Alankara Mandapam’ wherein there are musical pillars each having a different musical note. The Alankara Mandapam is faced by an 18 feet high statue of hanuman. It is an important pilgrim centre and the site of the famous Thanumalayan Temple.
Nice Article very well written 🙂
Thanks Mediaeye 🙂