Temple tour

TODAY’S TEMPLE

SUCHINDRAM THANUMALAYAN TEMPLE

Located almost midway between NAGERCOIL and KANYAKUMARI , SUCHINDRAM is a very famous pilgrim centre. At just 7 kms from Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, Suchindram known as GNANARANYA , is famous for the THANUMALAYAN TEMPLE . The Thanumalayan Temple built in the 17th century is famous for its sculptural wealth and we’ll known for its quality of workmanship.

TEMPLE HISTORY

It is one of the few temples in the country where the TRINITY , ‘BRAHMA , VISHNU AND ISHWAR ’, are worshipped. The temple enshrines ‘SRI STHANUMALAYA ’, the Trinity of God (SIVA , VISHNU and BRAHMA ). The linga is in three parts. The top represents “STHANU ” name of SIVA , the middle “MAL ” name of VISHNU , and the base “AYA ” name of BRAHMA . One of the legends of Suchindram is related to chastity of Anasuya, wife of Sage Atri. The legend says that the trimurtis appeared in front of Anasuya as begging brahmins. When she was about to serve they imposed a condition that they would eat only if she served them naked. Through the power of her chastity she converted the three Gods into babies and suckled them. On the plea of Godesses, Anasuya restored the dieties. On the same spot a linga sprouted which still exists.

Images of VIGNESWARI (a feminine form of VINAYAKA ), Goddess ARAM VALARTHA NAYAKI , INDRA VINAYAKA , KALA BHAIRAVA and SAAKAHI GANAPATHY are also enshrined. Inscriptions dating back to the 9th century are found in this temple.

The temple was previously controlled by the Namboodiris, one of the main Namboodiri families called the Thekkumon Madam.

The place got the name of ‘Suchindram’ from the Sthala Purana. According to Hindu mythological legend, king of Devas, Indra got relieved of a curse at the place of the main linga in the temple. The term “Suchi” in Suchindram is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit meaning that stands for “purify”. Lord Indra is, thus, supposed to visit the temple for performing “ARDHAJAMA POOJA ”, or worship, at midnight every day.

Thirumalai Nayak and the Travancore Maharajas, under whose administration the temple remained till Kanyakumari’s merger with Tamil Nadu, have made many endowments for its upkeep. It is interesting to note that during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunaall Maharajah of Travancore, a lottery scheme was introduced in 1875 A.D., to raise funds for rebuilding a portion of the temple and a sum of over Rs. 40,000 was realised.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE
RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE :

The religious significance of the temple is based on the fact that the main statue of linga represent Siva (Sthanu), Vishnu(Maal) and Brahma(Ayan), (giving the temple its name). The representation of the three central gods of Hinduism in one linga makes it unique in India.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE : Anthroplogically, it may have stemmed from the fact that the main temple at Padmanabhapuram was Vaishnavite, and the Nanjil Pillais and other communities in Nagarcoil were primarily Shaivaites, because of the influences from Chola, Chera and Pandya kingdoms. One of the unique aspects of the temple is the presence of the Gods across the length and breadth of the Hindu pantheon, from Rama and Krishna to Amman and Kandan. The different Hindu sects from Vaishnavism, Shaivism, to more localised Tamil sects like Amman, Kandan are represented in the different idols of the temple.

HOW TO REACH

Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple By Road
Suchindram is about 11kms from Kanyakumari and about 7kms from Nagarkoil and, therefore, lying between these two towns. Buses ply from Thirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Trivandram.

Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple By Train
The nearest railway station to Thanumalayan Temple is Nagercoil Junction which is 3kms away from Thanumalayan Temple.

Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple By Air
The nearest airport to Thanumalayan Temple is Thiruvananthapuram International airport, Thiruvananthapuram which is 70Kms away from Thanumalayan Temple.

In addition to that, the Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli Division) operates special buses from various destinations to Suchindram on all the 10 days of the famous Car Festival.

SOURCE : TEMPLE PUROHIT
JAY MAA ❤️